A year later and I still think Kyle Anderson is Manu's replacement

[Chinook]

But scouts and fans did describe them as heir apparents to Manu and Anderson was a reach when he was picked. Most mock drafts had him going in the 2nd round.

Anderson was considered a late-lottery picks. His production and unique skill-set were considered very intriguing. I don't think anyone could say 30 was a reach before the draft. Maybe after, seeing as there were still some interesting players on the board at 30 (though none were even as successful as Kyle last year, I don't believe).

[100%duncan]

Depends on how you look at it. He'll never be as good as Manu, but he does look to be in line to replace Manu in the lineup.

I mean I dont hate Kyle. I think he is pretty smart, especially against that Utah game, I liked that he kept attacking instead of shooting jumpers esp during the last 2 offensive plays. Although he missed them both, you know that the dude knows what's the right thing to do at certain situations. Unfortunately, I just dont see him even coming close to the 6th man manu, as he just doesnt have the athleticism, quickness, and scoring ability to do so. I would love for him to prove me wrong but if he was indeed the manu "replacement" then I think we would be screwed tbh.

[AFBlue]

He's learning to score even with contact. That's the main difference.

Meh. He's running up against smaller, less skilled defenders. He likely won't be as big of a mismatch on the next level in terms of size and smarts. I look at him a lot like I look at Evan Turner. Evan had a rough transition to the NBA because he didn't have the requisite athleticism and he couldn't outsmart his defenders either. I don't think Anderson will be bad, but he needs to develop a more reliable jumper and/or pick up his pace of play in general to be effective at the next level...imo tbqh.

[SpurPadre]

That second statement is just flat wrong. Most mock drafts had Anderson anywhere from 15-25 up to draft night. He was one of the most skilled players in the entire draft.

I've read several articles at the time that expressed surprise Anderson was picked in the first round, citing his lack of athleticism and speed.

[Chinook]

I mean I dont hate Kyle. I think he is pretty smart, especially against that Utah game, I liked that he kept attacking instead of shooting jumpers esp during the last 2 offensive plays. Although he missed them both, you know that the dude knows what's the right thing to do at certain situations. Unfortunately, I just dont see him even coming close to the 6th man manu, as he just doesnt have the athleticism, quickness, and scoring ability to do so. I would love for him to prove me wrong but if he was indeed the manu "replacement" then I think we would be screwed tbh.

Well someone has to be. When Tim retires, there's going to be someone starting at center next to LMA. That guy will be Tim's replacement. It doesn't matter than whomever they get will likely not be nearly as good a Prime Tim or even Old Tim. He'll be gone, and someone will replace him. It's the nature of the beast. Anderson is going to be much better on offense than people realize. Almost everything he's done in the d-league and summer league he'll be able to do in the pros. Dude's going to be a foul-drawing machine, and he'll eventually be able to score at will. He'll need time with the rest of the bench to get used to them, though. I don't think he'll be a sixth man unless he spells one of the bigs for the first subs ution, but I definitely think he can be an elite second-unit floor general with time.

[SpurPadre]

Anderson was considered a late-lottery picks. His production and unique skill-set were considered very intriguing. I don't think anyone could say 30 was a reach before the draft. Maybe after, seeing as there were still some interesting players on the board at 30 (though none were even as successful as Kyle last year, I don't believe).

Agreed. I'm not hating on the pick and there's still time for him to be a decent contributor but he's got a long way to go.

[Chinook]

Meh. He's running up against smaller, less skilled defenders. He likely won't be as big of a mismatch on the next level in terms of size and smarts.

I think you overestimate the caliber of players who make up bench threes. I read somewhere that the average height of an NBA SF is under 6-6. I imagine that's even more pronounced for bench threes. Anderson will have the size advantage over most of his defenders. He has an elite BBIQ, and he can obviously get smarter. So I think he will totally be able to continue using his size and skill at the NBA level. He hasn't even maxed out his potential along those lines yet.

[100%duncan]

Well someone has to be. When Tim retires, there's going to be someone starting at center next to LMA. That guy will be Tim's replacement. It doesn't matter than whomever they get will likely not be nearly as good a Prime Tim or even Old Tim. He'll be gone, and someone will replace him. It's the nature of the beast. Anderson is going to be much better on offense than people realize. Almost everything he's done in the d-league and summer league he'll be able to do in the pros. Dude's going to be a foul-drawing machine, and he'll eventually be able to score at will. He'll need time with the rest of the bench to get used to them, though. I don't think he'll be a sixth man unless he spells one of the bigs for the first subs ution, but I definitely think he can be an elite second-unit floor general with time.

I know that that's why I said if he was indeed the replacement then we would be screwed, in other words, I won't get too excited. But yah I agree pretty much.

[ElNono]

Depends on how you look at it. He'll never be as good as Manu, but he does look to be in line to replace Manu in the lineup.

I don't see him as a PG/SG in any capacity in this league, not starting, no backup (outside the garbage time spells).

Don't take this the wrong way, it's just an opinion, but I think you're way off in your assessment of him. I think you're a solid poster, but when it comes to Kyle, I keep in shaking my head

Obviously, it could simply be me being wrong about all this

[ElNono]

I think you overestimate the caliber of players who make up bench threes. I read somewhere that the average height of an NBA SF is under 6-6. I imagine that's even more pronounced for bench threes. Anderson will have the size advantage over most of his defenders. He has an elite BBIQ, and he can obviously get smarter. So I think he will totally be able to continue using his size and skill at the NBA level. He hasn't even maxed out his potential along those lines yet.

(shakes head again)

[cantthinkofanything]

LOL if you say so

A...mother... ing...bionic...cheetah

[skulls138]

Unfortunately the goal is to be able to play in the NBA eventually. When you spend time at that level and look clearly overmatched then yea, I think it matters. He doesn't need to dominate by any means. He just needs to look like he belongs and contribute to the team effort. We just haven't seen that except in a few isolated spurts so far. Hopefully with time those spurts become more consistent and eventually they're the rule and not the exception. It all takes time.

He needs to identify areas in his game that he can improve. But not just that, he needs to focus on parts of his game that will need to be become core competencies to exist at the NBA level. It reminds me of the Tim Duncan summer league/Greg Ostertag story (mythology). As the legend goes, Pop told Duncan to play the game favoring his left hand throughout in order help him develop that part of his game. Tim could have dominated Greg Ostertag with his right hand, but it was more important to grow with his left. Even if that story is fiction, it still exemplifies what Kyle Anderson will need to do. Go to Austin and don't focus on what will work in Austin - focus on what will work in San Antonio.

Consider also the case study of Danny Green. Cut by the Cavs. Signed by the Spurs at the start of the 2010 season and cut six days later. When he was released they told him what he needed to improve to be viable in the NBA. So Danny improved those traits and eventually got called back to the Spurs where he continued to develop those traits. The lockout happened. Danny went to Ljubljana and continued to improve on those traits. Danny Green is hardly a complete player. He has huge holes in his game. But hes making awesome money and is one of the very best at his role in the world.

Kyle needs to really talk with the Spurs and determine what path will make him most effective. What skills will be most important. And then go get as good at those things as possible.

Maybe that's what he's doing. I don't remember him going to the line as much and he isn't passing as much. That could be Pop telling him to play as a bigger person instead of being a point guard. He still needs a reliable 3, he's not that big

[Solid D]

Kyle is a good player. He was the 5th best scorer and 4th best rebounder of the Utah Summer League (4 teams) and he's the 5th best scorer in the much more populous Vegas League (24 teams). He has been given the lead scoring role for the Vegas team. He is quite adept at getting to the line (sort of the Harden of the SL, in that department).

He's slow and he is not very quick as an on-ball defender, but he is a "basketball player" and he has a great feel for the game. He's a good asset to have.

[SAGirl]

Unfortunately the goal is to be able to play in the NBA eventually. When you spend time at that level and look clearly overmatched then yea, I think it matters. He doesn't need to dominate by any means. He just needs to look like he belongs and contribute to the team effort. We just haven't seen that except in a few isolated spurts so far. Hopefully with time those spurts become more consistent and eventually they're the rule and not the exception. It all takes time.

He needs to identify areas in his game that he can improve. But not just that, he needs to focus on parts of his game that will need to be become core competencies to exist at the NBA level. It reminds me of the Tim Duncan summer league/Greg Ostertag story (mythology). As the legend goes, Pop told Duncan to play the game favoring his left hand throughout in order help him develop that part of his game. Tim could have dominated Greg Ostertag with his right hand, but it was more important to grow with his left. Even if that story is fiction, it still exemplifies what Kyle Anderson will need to do. Go to Austin and don't focus on what will work in Austin - focus on what will work in San Antonio.

Consider also the case study of Danny Green. Cut by the Cavs. Signed by the Spurs at the start of the 2010 season and cut six days later. When he was released they told him what he needed to improve to be viable in the NBA. So Danny improved those traits and eventually got called back to the Spurs where he continued to develop those traits. The lockout happened. Danny went to Ljubljana and continued to improve on those traits. Danny Green is hardly a complete player. He has huge holes in his game. But hes making awesome money and is one of the very best at his role in the world.

Kyle needs to really talk with the Spurs and determine what path will make him most effective. What skills will be most important. And then go get as good at those things as possible.

It seems that the path with him is long term. Consider this article http://www.48minutesof .com/kyle-...win-over-bucks

"One of the challenges for Anderson is finding a way to play off the ball and still be effective. So far in Summer League he’s served as a secondary ball handler, tasked with playmaking once the Spurs get in to their sets. Hammon acknowledged that Anderson’s role with the Spurs will be different during the season, but continued development of his decision making is key during Summer League.“We’re trying to groom him to eventually get to those bigger roles with the Spurs and it’s all part of the process for him and for us,” Hammon said."

That means that while he will understandably have a diminished role this season, the plan for him is long term. It actually confirms other reports we have read that the Spurs really, really like him. That is why they have given him the ball, told him to be aggressive and make stuff happen out there. He could flop in epic fashion and he did to start SL, being very deferential and passive. It turned out that he was more talented than any of the other guys out there and they needed him to be aggressive. The results speak for themselves. He's done better when asked to play that role. That is fine because long term, spotting up is not what the Spurs would like for him to do for the team. I think they hope over time Kyle can actually be more like we have seen in summer league, aggressive for himself and other guys. He is far from a finished product at 21 yrs old and the Spurs have the luxury of bringing him along slowly.

By the way how do I bookmark this thread, I would indeed like to bring it back up when KA is killing it out there. lol

[Mr. Body]

I'd be more surprised if he flops out than if he turns out to be a great bench guy. I don't think he's too far from the latter, but needs to tighten his handles, work out his defense better, and fix his shot. He seems to me to be fixing the shot, that's why he's front-rimming a lot. But if freakin' Kawhi Leonard could turn into a reliable outside shooter, I don't doubt Kyle Anderson can, too. Doesn't mean he will, but he's a far cry from a Rondo or other perimeter player who is completely hopeless from range. He's not bad. He just needs to work on what Chip tells him to work on. With luck he can be semi-deadly from range. He'll be open a lot.

[Nathan89]

Closest thing to Manu on the summer league team is this closer.

[spursistan]

he is nowhere near the Manu package, probably nobody will ever be what Ginobili meant to the Spurs..At the highest of his highest ceiling, KA might scratch Diaw's..

[SpursBig3s]

i4l

[Nathan89]

he is nowhere near the Manu package, probably nobody will ever be what Ginobili meant to the Spurs..At the highest of his highest ceiling, KA might scratch Diaw's..

...bobcat years.

[Johnny RIngo]

Manu replacement lol. Kyle won't even be good enough to be a poor man's Diaw.

[cutewizard]

hmmmmm

[Raven]

not close at all

[Kawhitstorm]

What Kyle lacks isn't necessarily speed but explosion. He has long strides to make up for his lack of speed but once he gets to the rim he has no explosion whatsoever thus he gets blocked or has his shot altered since he can't use his length against shot blockers. The only current rotation perimeter player that has a similar severe lack of explosiveness is Jared Dudley but he can surprisingly move his feet laterally to be a plus defender. Kyle basically has to become a knock down mid-range shooter to become a rotation player since he won't be living at the FT line in the NBA.

[San Antonio Slayer]

the closest to Manu is Tyreke Evans with a really really upgraded jumpshot and 3-pointer

[Darkwaters]

Maybe that's what he's doing. I don't remember him going to the line as much and he isn't passing as much. That could be Pop telling him to play as a bigger person instead of being a point guard. He still needs a reliable 3, he's not that big

I'm sure thats what hes doing. So we just have to trust the process I think and know that the coaching staff will get him there. But it's foolish to think hes there already.