Santi Aldama is balling right now. You can see it – the confidence, the rhythm, the touch. He’s found a groove that makes every possession look smoother than the one before. The jumper’s falling, the reads are sharpe, and he’s finally starting to look like the player Memphis hoped he could be. That’s the good news. The tricky part? His rise might also make him the Grizzlies’ best ticket to fix what’s missing.
Aldama’s not just playing well, he’s peaking in a roster moment where Memphis is handcuffed. The injuries, the contracts, the youth development timeline, none of it’s in sync. Teams around the league are noticing, and that’s where things get interesting. For contenders looking to add a stretch big who plays within the flow and doesn’t need the ball, Aldama’s becoming that guy.
The Grizzlies love him but if you’re being honest about building for the future, his value might never be higher than it is right now. That doesn’t mean trade him for the sake of change. It means explore what his growth could buy you. A backup point guard with playoff poise? A veteran wing who steadies the bench? Something that balances a roster built on stars still getting healthy.
Memphis has built its identity on loyalty, patience, and development. But sometimes the next smart play isn’t about holding your cards. It’s about knowing when one’s worth more in someone else’s hand.
