So, I was just kicking back the other day, you know, flipping through some stuff, and Santi Aldama’s name popped up. Got me thinking, as it does. Not like I’m some big shot analyst, just a guy who watches a lot of ball and likes to chew over these things, especially player movements.
You look at a guy like Aldama. He signed that deal back in ’21, a 2-4 year thing, something around 10 million bucks. When he first signed, you wonder how it’ll pan out. His cap hit, it wasn’t massive to start, like under 2 mil, but it’s set to be almost 4 million for the ’24-’25 season. That’s when GMs start really looking, you know? Especially with him being a restricted free agent eventually. Decisions, decisions.
Thinking About His Progress
What really caught my eye was his jump last season. Made me sit up a bit. He was putting up solid numbers:
- Averaged about 12.5 points a game. That’s pretty decent.
- Pulled down over 6 rebounds. Always need guys who can board.
- And nearly 3 assists. Shows he can see the floor a bit.
All career highs for him, they said. And he was out there for 65 games, even started 16 of ’em. Playing around 25 minutes a night. That’s not just garbage time; that’s real, meaningful play. You see that kind of development, and the gears in your head start turning about his value.
Then there’s what you hear about his game. They say he’s a good scorer, can get buckets in different ways. And on defense, his size and how quick he is for a big guy, apparently helps him block shots, get a steal here and there. They even say he can guard a few different spots on the floor. That kind of flexibility is gold in today’s league.
So, the “trade” idea naturally bubbles up in my mind. Not that I’m saying Memphis wants to trade him, but you always gotta consider the possibilities in this league. Maybe a team is desperate for a young forward with his kind of skill set. That rookie contract he signed, 4 years, just over 10 mil guaranteed, that was a smart pickup by the Grizzlies. Now, with his salary for 2024-25 being $3,960,531 – that’s a very attractive number for a player showing his kind of production and upside.
I spent a good chunk of an afternoon just mulling it over. What would a fair trade look like? It’s not like you’d get him for a bag of chips, especially with those numbers. But what does Memphis need? What could another team offer that makes them think twice? It’s like trying to complete a puzzle where the pieces keep changing shape.
It’s funny how these things go. I wasn’t actively “researching” a trade or anything. Just saw some contract details, remembered his season, and my brain just started connecting dots. It’s the kind of stuff fans like me do, right? We play GM in our heads. It’s a good way to understand how teams are built, or at least try to. Makes you appreciate the real GMs have a tough job, balancing talent, money, and a whole lot of unknowns. All this just from seeing a player’s name and contract. Wild.
