The Memphis Grizzlies are among the teams in the NBA aiming to secure their best player’s future with the club. Santi Aldama is the latest player to receive a contract deal in a very turbulent offseason in the NBA. The Spanish big man is coming off his best season to date, and the Grizzlies are aiming to secure his services for the future along with several other players. The aim for Memphis should be a deep playoff run next season. Ja Morant has been the nucleus of the team, but requires more support from the role players on the roster.
Spain has a history of producing exceptional players for the NBA.
While the Euroleague is a competent competition, it lacks the grandeur and financial benefits that the NBA has. It has, in the past, served as a stepping stone for the best European players to hone their skills in preparation for the NBA. Some Spanish players skip that process altogether and jump straight into the deep end of the NBA, and more times than not, they find success in the NBA.
The best evidence of Spain’s proclivity to produce exceptional talent is the Gasol brothers. Pau and Mark Gasol have both had long and prosperous careers in the NBA, and Pau in particular will go down in Lakers and NBA history. Pau Gasol has won several accolades in his career, including being inducted into the NBA and FIBA Hall of Fame.
The Euroleague serves as great preparation for the demands of the NBA.
Several other players have emerged from Spain to play in the NBA. Serge Ibaka is another well-known Spanish national to find great success in the NBA. While he is not Spanish, Luka Doncic signed for Spanish side Real Madrid when he was 13 and spent his time playing in Spain before being drafted by the Mavs. Santi Aldama now has that pressure to become the next Spanish sensation to ply their skills in the NBA.
The Memphis Grizzlies have an impressive roster for next season.
The Grizzlies are doing their utmost to bolster their roster for next season. By trading Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic, they opened up some room in their cap and got a championship winner in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in the process. In that deal, they also acquired the services of Cole Anthony, a capable and consistent point guard who comes from an NBA family.
The Grizzlies took a step further in securing their best player’s future when they reportedly offered Jaren Jackson Jr a five-year, $240 million contract extension. Santi Aldama joins a packed frontcourt in Memphis as the Grizzlies have three star centers in rotation for next season in Aldama, Jackson Jr., and the still-injured Zac Edey. If all those players can remain healthy, the Grizzlies will be a force in the paint.
The skilled big man has become a crucial commodity in the NBA.
Santi Aldama has a unique set of skills that are no doubt a result of his time playing in Europe. The skilled big man has become essential to any team in the NBA. Aldama’s 6-foot-11 size is complemented by his impressive shooting and playmaking skills. While details are still slim, ESPN reports that Santi Aldama has agreed to a three-year, $52.5 million deal with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Can Santi Aldama contribute to the Grizzlies’ success next season?
As with every offseason, the rumors around several players jumping ship have been vast. By securing two of their star big men in Aldama and Jackson Jr, the Grizzlies have sent a message to the other teams in the NBA. They have more than just one amazing, all be it controversial, player in Ja Morant. Aldama is coming off his best season to date after averaging 12.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 0.8 steals last season for Memphis. Can Aldama become a key player for Memphis in his fifth year in the NBA?
