Memphis Grizzlies: 3 Training Camp Tasks for Kyle Anderson
By AJ Salah
Get Those Jumpers Up
Those dismayed with the Anderson signing mainly lamented that Memphis spent the bulk of their available cap room on a non-shooter. The Grizz had serious three-point-shooting woes last year, that may be at risk of repeat. Their long-range stats were buried in the NBA’s basement across the board, and Anderson, unadjusted, will do little to help.
A career .338 shooter from distance, Anderson attempted only 0.8 threes per game last year, which is almost a Tony Allen-level of non-threat.
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If Anderson remains dormant from distance, defenders will be able to sag off him mercilessly, and smother Marc Gasol and Mike Conley. Marc and Mike are currently the team’s two best stretch threats. Still, both are at their absolute best in pick-‘n’-roll or pick-‘n’-pop sets. They need to outsource the team’s spacing — but to whom?
The answer is nebulous, but Anderson would be an ideal candidate to emerge. His positional versatility — and bloated contract — should lock him into heavy minutes. In spending so much time on the floor, he will need to develop an outside presence for the Memphis Grizzlies to evolve within the modern NBA.
His shooting stroke is decent — the potential exists — but proof will come from practice.