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The Memphis Grizzlies may have just found their starting small forward for the next four years.
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN has reported that the San Antonio Spurs will not be matching the 4-year, $37.2 million offer sheet that the Grizzlies signed with Anderson two days ago. This confirms a Jabari Young of the San Antonio Express-News report from earlier Sunday, and means Kyle, AKA “Slow-Mo”, will be rocking Beale Street Blue very soon.
Told #Spurs unlikely to match Kyle Anderson’s 4-year, $37M offer sheet clearing the way for him to join #Grizzlies ... tonight is the deadline
— Jabari Young (@JabariJYoung) July 8, 2018
Spurs are declining to match Kyle Anderson’s four-year, $37M offer sheet with Memphis, league sources tell ESPN. Anderson will likely become Grizzlies starting small forward.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 9, 2018
Kyle Anderson’s role with the Spurs evolved over his four years in San Antonio. From a reserve with scattered minutes to a player who started 67 games for legendary coach Gregg Popovich this past season, Anderson has shown growth in his game and an impressive understanding of the game that allows for him to make up for his lack of natural athleticism. He is not a three point shooter, or a player born with freakish physical gifts, but he does have length (7’3” wing span) and the ability to create off the dribble offensively.
He also fits what appears to be the “prototype” for a Grizzlies player under new Head Coach J.B. Bickerstaff - high basketball IQ, great defensive size and numbers to back it up. While he may not be the ideal modern NBA wing, he fits the counterculture that Bickerstaff is trying to re-establish in Memphis.
The Grizzlies now have sixteen players on their roster (not coulding two-way contracts) including Omri Casspi, who agreed to a 1-year veteran’s minimum contract earlier in free agency. Memphis will have to make a decision at some point as to who will be leaving the Grizzlies via either release or trade.
Stay with Grizzly Bear Blues throughout the days and weeks ahead for further analysis of this move.