Kyle Anderson enjoyed a career year for the Grizzlies as a fixture in the lineup in 2020/21. He’s had a difficult time adjusting to a bench role this season, Mark Giannotto of the Memphis Commercial Appeal notes. Anderson, who will be an unrestricted free agent next summer, posted averages of 12.4 PPG, 5.7 RPG and 3.4 APG in 69 starts last season. In 14 games off the bench this season, he’s playing approximately five fewer minutes per game while averaging 8.9 PPG, 5.4 RPG and 2.4 APG.
“I’m just still trying to figure it out. It’s a different role,” Anderson said. “People may look at last year and say why aren’t you doing what you did last year? It’s just that’s over. This is a different role. I’m a professional. I’ve got to figure it out.”
We have more from the Southwest Division:
- The Pelicans are floundering with a 2-14 record and guard Josh Hart doesn’t want to hear excuses for their poor start, Christian Clark of the New Orleans Times-Picayune tweets. “We have to grow up. (Bleep) being young, inexperienced,” he said. “I don’t really care for that right now. We have have to focus on growing up. We have to focus on having better attention to detail.”
- When Zion Williamson and Ja Morant were drafted 1-2 in 2019, it should have sparked a spirited division rivalry between the Pelicans and Grizzlies, It hasn’t worked out that way, at least not yet, because of Williamson’s injury issues, Chris Herrington of the Daily Memphian writes. The teams have only met six times since that draft due to the pandemic and only three have included both Williamson and Morant, Herrington notes. Just one of those matchups had a full complement of fans in the stands due to COVID-19 restrictions.
- Rockets first-round pick Usman Garuba has been assigned the G League Rio Grande Valley Vipers and that’s needed in order to get him some experience, Rahat Huq of the Houston Chronicle writes. Garuba hasn’t cracked the Rockets’ regular rotation, appearing in just seven games and averaging 6.4 MPG. Garuba is noted for defensive prowess but needs to develop his offensive game, Huq adds.
Ja if he went to the Pelicans with Brandon Ingram, with Steven Adams there last year. They would’ve made the playoffs.
Ja is just better and Zion although great with huge potential is consistently injured and overweight. Ja is a true professional
Morant is a winner and a gamer. There aint many better than him.
There is no world in which Ja is a better player than Zion, just there isn’t!
Both drafted some year and both in their third year.
Ja has played 144 games to Zions 85.
Ja since entering the league has improved at the worst area of his game, three point shooting and is currently shooting 38% from deep. Zion hasn’t worked at all on the worst pasty of his game which is his health and fitness, he’s still out injured and really overweight.
Zions best season, last year put up 27-7-4.
Ja is currently putting up 26-7-6.
Ja lead Memphis with no all stars to the playoffs over the Pelicans who have two all stars.
Zion would be better if he played but he doesn’t. Ja is better cause he’s a leader and gets better and better every season.
This world Ja is far better based on availability, 10 years from now we will also believe Ja is better because leg injuries will ruin Zion and Ja is gonna be on some Dame ish by then
It’s unlikely that Morant will ever be on the same level as fellow #2 pick KD, but it’s possible. Zion, on the other hand, still has a lot more potential. But unless he can find a way to get in shape, and of course stay healthy, it won’t matter. Right now they’re starting to look a lot like Oden and Durant, if Zion’s career continues to go the way it has.
I really like the little I’ve seen from Garuba. They have other guys at his position(s). I really wish they stopped with this dumb John Wall situation, and played certain guys in better situations, but they obviously arent trying to win, which I guess is fine b/c they have their own pick, but I would personally like to see their young guys learning in a better environment, and I thought they had a good chance to be a team fighting for the back of the playoffs, if they did things with all their effort…
New Orleans has a really big issue with their guards, and they havent used certain players that should be playing, almost at all. I did pick them to be the worst team in the NBA, but their new found depth at the 3/4, and their added defenders, should have at least made them more competitive.
Garuba needs as much time in the G-League as he can get, maybe the team will send Josh Christopher there too. Neither of them are getting any significant playing time that they need to improve their game.
I personally think they should trade Eric Gordon and Danuel House, let John Wall play, stop using multibig lineups, let KJ Martin play, let Josh Christopher play, and let all their young guys develop properly. I also think this roster has potential to be really fun to watch, but they’ve literally done everything they can to stop that from happening. To me, it brings in to question why they even made certain moves in the first place. I also think it’s really messed up to do thos to John Wall. The argument could be made he could just give up money, but why should he? There is no reason they shouldmt let him play
John Wall situation is interesting on many levels. The way our Rockets are playing, makes the decision to sit Wall “for trade reasons” that much dumber. If Rockets were winning more often and say 6-10 or whatever, Wall would be an afterthought. Because Rockets have only won 1 game so far, they need all the help they can get.
I am thinking a couple things happened that lead to Wall potentially sitting until a trade deal can be made. 1. Rockets was trying to avoid a Harden demand-type from happening
2. Wall and/or his agent was convinced his trade value would only increase upon injuries. Leaving him to keep his money and play for another team.
Either way, this Cinderella story may just end up being that the two evil step sisters woe the Prince. Leaving Wall as a peasant cleaning up after the stepmother and locked away in the highest tower. I haven’t understood sitting Wall would get him traded later on as the season went on. The guy is injury prone and haven’t played more than a 1/3 of the season the last 4 years straight. He is a baller and has plenty of talent, but he will never stay on the court long enough to give any team the “edge” to win a championship. So, Wall will sit rest of the season and option out of his contract (if he wants to play) or sit another season out to keep his money. Maybe Cinderella breaks her shackles and woes the Prince, but I’m not holding my breath
Zion is up for part in Fantastic 4. He’ll play The Thing without a suit …..
Zion has already ate his way out of NBA.
I was trying to find a potential trade for Bulls getting Kyle Anderson but I don’t see anything of a good fit. Troy Brown makes 5.5M this year and Anderson makes $9.9M, for them to get Anderson, White would need to be involved and I don’t see that happening. It’s an overpayment. We need size on the interior. Hernangomez for Brown and a protected 2nd would do the trick I think?