In the opening hours of free agency, the Grizzlies gave Santi Aldama a 3 year, $52.5 million contract, which includes a third-year team option. At 24 years old, Aldama is coming off the best season of his career, averaging 12.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game in 65 appearances. The value of his new deal reflects the Grizzlies' belief in his current skillset and that he will continue to improve in the coming years.
Santi Aldama was recently predicted to be the Grizzlies' X-Factor
Logan Struck of Sports Illustrated recently wrote an article predicting the Grizzlies' X-factor for the upcoming season. Struck mentioned other members of the supporting cast around Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., but said that Santi Aldama is a key player that many fail to mention. He also made the point that Aldama playing at EuroBasket will allow him to build momentum going into this season.
While there are other logical options to be the Grizzlies' X-Factor this upcoming season, Santi Aldama makes sense as the Grizzlies' X-Factor for this year. Despite entering year five with the Grizzlies, Aldama is still just 24 years old and has shown an upward trend offensively every season. With the Grizzlies needing multiple players to replace Desmond Bane's scoring production, it is not unreasonable to expect Aldama to take another leap as a scorer.
Not only did Aldama raise his scoring average this past season, but he also shot career-high percentages as he shot 36.9% from three, 59.9% on twos, and had a solid 57.6 eFG%. Whether Santi Aldama increases his scoring average or simply continues becoming a more efficient shooter, or both, the Grizzlies will be a much more dangerous team offensively.
At 7 feet tall, Santi Aldama brings a unique offensive skillset as a scorer and playmaker. Aldama also possesses positional versatility that should allow him to make a sizable impact this upcoming season. Aldama is most valuable as a stretch four but also can fill in at center, especially with the possibility of both Jackson Jr. and Edey missing the start of the season.
While Aldama is valuable offensively, he has continued to struggle as a defender during his time in Memphis. Aldama must continue to work on his pick-and-roll defense, and he must provide more physicality when guarding in the paint. His ceiling in upcoming seasons will be defined by how much he grows defensively.
Santi Aldama has continued to make meaningful improvements offensively every season. There is a high likelihood that he will make another scoring leap, especially after the Desmond Bane trade. If Aldama can make significant strides as a defender this season, he has the potential to be a crucial rotation piece for this upcoming season.