Memphis Grizzlies: 4 things that must happen before the season opener

We are days away from the Memphis Grizzlies beginning training camp, the symbolic start of a new season. And fans are just a few weeks away from the first preseason game of the 2021-22 NBA season.

With lots of new faces, fans are anxious to see how many of the team’s new players will gel with the Grizzlies core.

But, before we get to meaningful regular season basketball, there are four things that need to happen before the Grizzlies kick off their season on Oct. 20 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

4. Santi Aldama needs to have at least one big moment for the Memphis Grizzlies during a preseason game

The much-maligned 30th overall draft pick in the 2021 NBA draft suited up for the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2021 NBA Summer League to little fanfare.

Aldama, a forward out of Loyola, looked two or three steps behind during those games and never looked comfortable. He shot an abysmal 18.5% from the field and made 2 out of 20 three-point shots.

I’m not suggesting that the Grizzlies should be writing off Aldama because of a handful of bad games, but it’s not a positive sign to see a player struggle that much against fringe NBA competition. Especially when marquee rookies looked as good as advertised like Jalen Suggs and Jalen Green.

If Santi Aldama can show some flashes of brilliance, make a big play or two during one of the preseason games, it would go a long way in creating some goodwill and belief that Aldama can cut it at the NBA level.