Santi Aldama secures another season in the NBA
The Memphis Grizzlies exercise the team option they had on the power forward’s rookie contract.
It was predictable, but it had to be made official. Memphis Grizzlies exercised the $2.2 million player option they had on Santi Aldama’s rookie contract. The 22-year-old power forward will thus play his third season in the North American League. The Canary Islander still has another year left with the Tennessee franchise for $3.9 million, but under the same team option criteria. In the fifth year, there is a qualified offer on the player of $5.9 million.
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After playing two seasons at Loyola University, Maryland, Aldama was selected in 2021 with the pick 30 (last election first round) by Utah Jazz. The Salt Lake City franchise traded him to Memphis for Jared Butler and two second rounds (2022 and 2026). And he gradually made his way into the team. He went from playing 11.2 minutes on average in 32 games, none as a starter, during his rookie season to 21.8 in 77 - 20 of them in the starting five, last season. Jared Jackson Jr’s injury gave him a greater role at the beginning of the 2022-23 season, in which he averaged 9 points and 4.8 rebounds.
ESPN gives him a projection of 15.2 points and 8 rebounds for the present campaign - one in with a similarity to the previous one: center Steven Adams will undergo surgery on his right knee which will keep him away, in principle, for the entire season. Aldama will fight with Ziaire Williams (also renewed) to occupy minutes with Jackson in the paint.
Aldama’s growth has not only occurred in an NBA in which this year there will only be three Spaniards and he is the one who raises the least doubts: Usman Garuba has a two-way contract with Golden State and it is unknown when he will be seen again. Ricky Rubio (mental health care) on a track. The Canarian made his full competitive international debut this summer with the national team. At the World Cup, the power forward, who has blind confidence from Sergio Scariolo, national coach, played five games with 11.2 points and 4.2 rebounds on average. His best performance was against Canada with 20 points (4 from 7 in 3s).