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Anderson's agent 'encouraging' Spurs for trade
While the San Antonio Spurs are currently on an 11-game winning streak, first in the Southwest Division and have yet to lose a game on the rodeo road trip, it appears that success may come with a cost.
According to the San Antonio Express-News' Buck Harvey, there may be some trouble brewing.
"Sources say James Anderson's agent this month encouraged Spurs to trade his client. Nothing offered would have been better than JA Monday." Harvey tweeted early this morning.
After impressing his teammates and coaches in training camp and starting off the season well, Anderson has been the forgotten man on the Spurs roster since.
After Manu Ginobili suffered an injury to his hand in early January, Anderson was tabbed as the starter at shooting guard the next game against Golden State, a game where Anderson didn't make Spurs fans easily forget about the Ginobili's loss (five points in 20 minutes) and coincidentally the same night Danny Green's emergence began.
The next game, against Dallas, Anderson played just six minutes, followed by four minutes against Denver, where Green finished with 24 points and seven rebounds. Green was inserted into the starting lineup shortly after and, while Anderson has had a steady decrease in minutes.
While Anderson was a regular part of the Spurs rotation through December and January, regularly playing 20 plus minutes a game, his minutes since then have been about as consistent as his shooting percentages from game-to-game.
While inconsistent playing time might not be ideal for Anderson, requesting a trade doesn't look good for him either. I can understand that it may be frustrating to go from a nicely carved out role in the Spurs rotation to getting leapfrogged and not knowing if you're even going to get to take off your shooting shirt the next game.
Unfortunately for Anderson, that's also a role that has to be filled, especially when there isn't a 12-man rotation in the league. Some players just have to sit and be ready when their time comes, something Anderson told our own Jeff Garcia he was doing a few games ago.
I'm just going out there, trying to be sharp with my moves and shots. Just trying to stay in shape the best I can. When the minutes comes, I'm just mentally prepared and just go out and bring a spark to the team.
I feel great just to be out there. Anytime I can get out there, boost some energy off the bench and contribute, it's always great for me and for the team. To get out on the floor and when I get out there to bring some energy to the team.
For Anderson, taking the back seat may be the best decision right now. Getting the opportunity to learn under three all-stars isn't something that comes along every day and a trade can make that opportunity disappear very quickly.
Sure, an injury-plagued rookie season, which included stints in the D-League and a sophomore campaign that hasn't exactly lived up to expectations may be a rough way to start an NBA career, but great deal could be learned about patience and perseverance from the same player that took Anderson's spot in the rotation.
Green has played for two D-League teams, spent some time with the Cavs, got signed and waived by the Spurs and played overseas before finally making his mark this season.
There's still a half season to be played and in the NBA, things change every day. Ask Jeremy Lin.
But if Anderson still wants out of the 210 area code at the season, he'll have the freedom to pursue other options this Summer since the Spurs declined to pick up his third year option.
As for the Spurs. While they've always done their best to respect players' wishes, Anderson doesn't have much trade value due to the inconsistent playing time and a second round draft pick is likely they only thing they'll get back.
dont get me wrong i love the SPURS team especially Manu, but i wouldnt make Green,Neal,an Leonard seem like superstars cause they are far from that. They all have different good qualities about them. Cause like i said before when Manu an TJ get back going good one of them will probably be sitting as well. Then we will see how these comments will read then. Im not on here to put down any of them an i hope were not sounding stupid either but we all know that everbody has they on favorite team an players but again i love the SPURS an i dont feel like they get recognize enough like some of the other teams.
@larry23
I here what ur saying abt us having better players than him but I'm tired every1 saying hey give him a chance! Seriously there's been players all over the league that don't play much but wen they get there chance they make it happen! I just hope we don't sound like jerks on here! At the end of the day he seems like a good kid and he's living a dream of playing the MBA at least! But ur right everybody has their own opinion
good thing it doesnt matter what we think anyway. we just getting on here posting our comments an everyone is entitled to there on opinion. i got mine an everyone has there. an i also will say again that i like anderson an i truly feel like he can do more if given the chance. but its not up to us. when Manu an TJ get back wander who else will be sitting.
I have said this before I'll say it again, he's a potato, he looks out of shape and slow on defense and his confidence is nowhere to be found on offense. But he's a talented offensive player, if he gets playing time and confidence he could average 12-15 pts a game, but we have 4 better players than him in our team, Manu>>>Leonard>green=Neal>>>>>>>>>>>Anderson.
Did anyone watch the game tonight? Anderson looked like complete shit. He played horrible defense, forced a ton of bad shots, and tried to get multiple highlight dunks only to be stuffed at the rim. If that was his display for Spurs fans and other GMs to let him play, he has a bench-warming career coming up on his horizon. Neal can shoot much better than him, Green and Leonard have much greater ball handling abilities, and tonight his defense has no where to be seen. What a joke of a player. I hope someone is stupid enough to give us something useful when we trade him.
Also, standout stat of the night for Anderson was the worst +/- I've ever seen: -34. That's -10 more than anyone else on the team. That definitely makes me a believer in him.
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he just havent been giving the chance. looking at the games neal isnt a good defender at all. he will shoot a few 3s here an there but him,leonard or green is no better than anderson. u cant tell what a person can do if u dont let him play.
I say one deminsional is bcuz when he came out of college he was known for having a sweet stroke but yea! We agree it's time to part ways!
I just want to point out that I called out that I called James Anderson one dimensional b4 the game tonight! Way B4 If y'all saw the game u kno I'm right! Honestly cut his ass he ain't coming back to bite us in the ass!
@NorCalSpursFan I've been saying this since the beginning of the season. But I wouldn't even call him one dimensional because he really doesn't do one thing well. He can't create his own shot. He had a nice little 6(?) game stretch last year shooting it well behind the arc before he was injured. But this year he's proven to be a lackluster spot up shooter when given the opportunity. He has the potential to be a solid defender, and he is a good rebounder for his size, but even on the defensive side he's been lackadaisical.
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What a baby. A second year late first round draft pick begging for a trade? What has this league turned into? He had plenty of chances to prove his worth. The guy just can't play the NBA game at a high level. It's just one of those instances where the gap between college and pros is to big.
His Agent can Encourage the Spurs all he wants it's BS! The kid barely I truly believe its bcuz of a reason? Obviously Green is playing better than him! To me he barely plays D and wants to sit at the 3point line! He seems 1 dimensional so!! Tuff Sh$t Anderson wait for ur turn again! And maybe wen u get a chance to play (even if it's only 5 mins) show that ur explosive, play D, and shoot the ball well! If the Spurs can't trade for squat then just wait just like they waited on u last year wen u got hurt!
If he leaves he'll come back and bites us in the a**, he has tons of potential, too bad this is happening for him
