2014 NBA Draft: Grizzlies to work out Kyle Anderson

Mar 15, 2014; Las Vegas, NV, USA; UCLA Bruins guard/forward Kyle Anderson (5) celebrates while cutting the net after the championship game of the Pac-12 Conference college basketball tournament against the Arizona Wildcats at MGM Grand Garden Arena. The Bruins defeated the Wildcats 75-71. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Continuing a string of workouts with possible prospects, the Memphis Grizzlies will work out UCLA point forward Kyle Anderson per Adam Zagoria.

Per @AdamZagoria the #Grizzlies will work out UCLA SF Kyle Anderson Friday.
— Ari Alexander (@AriA1exander) June 18, 2014

If selected with the 22nd overall pick by Memphis, Anderson would immediately fill two voids: secondary ball-handling and outside shooting. The first is a given. Despite being listed as a forward above, many refer to Anderson as a rare guard-forward tweener at 6’9. Outside of Mike Conley and the other point guards, the Grizzlies lack players that can create for themselves and others off the dribble, allowing defenses to key in on Conley often. The outside shooting has drawn some concerns. While Anderson shot 48 percent from three last season, he shot 21 percent during his rookie season. With Anderson not being the quickest prospect, him having a decent outside jump shot is pivotal to his game carrying over in the pros.

Anderson’s biggest weakness is defense, but on a team like Memphis who finished sixth in defensive rating last season, they could easily hide him by playing Anderson alongside the teams best perimeter defenders in Tony Allen, Quincy Pondexter, Jamaal Franklin, and Courtney Lee.

In 36 games, Anderson averaged 14.6 points on 48 percent shooting, 8.8 rebounds, and 6.5 assists during his sophomore season at UCLA.

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