Portland Trail Blazers: 3 small forwards to target in 2022 NBA Free Agency
By Andy Quach
Portland Trail Blazers free agency small forward target: Kyle Anderson
While Kyle Anderson‘s star potential is probably as empty as my gas tank with the new oil prices, he’d be a solid pickup and starter alongside Dame, Ant, and Nurk.
Anderson checks nearly every box that you’d want from a tertiary option. He’s a plus defender and versatile enough to guard multiple positions, can create offense for himself and others, and can finish plays created for him by the leading players.
This season, as a result of the Memphis Grizzlies’ impressive depth, SloMo has taken a step back in nearly all facets of the box score, including his efficiency.
On the year, he’s averaging 7.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in a little over 21 minutes per game. He’s shooting 43 percent from the field and just 33 percent from deep.
Despite his streaky shooting, Anderson’s skills as a wing defender and secondary playmaker make him a perfect fit in Portland. He could even run the offense in the case of injuries or foul trouble.
When Dame and Ant want to play off of the ball, SloMo is more than qualified to run pick-and-rolls with Nurk and find the two guards for open treys.
With a solid small forward free agency class and a dearth of big spenders this offseason, Anderson should be able to be nabbed with a relative price cut — especially following a down season.