In the NBA, shooting is the most important skill. It’s the most fundamental skill in basketball. That’s simple enough, right? Yes and no. There are professional basketball players who do not shoot the basketball well.
To non-fans, that may seem counterintuitive. How could a player be good enough to be in the NBA if they don’t have the most basic skill in basketball? Well, they’re elite enough in other areas to compensate for that shortcoming.
With that said, even great players can fall out of a team’s rotation if they can’t shoot. Take Jarred Vanderbilt of the Los Angeles Lakers. He fell out of the Lakers’ rotation in the 2022-23 playoffs because he couldn’t shoot. Could the Lakers replace him with Xavier Tillman of the Memphis Grizzlies at some point in the season?
The Trade Proposal
Memphis Grizzlies Receive: G/F Cam Reddish, 2024 Second-Round Pick (LAC via LAL), 2025 Second-Round Pick (LAC via LAL)
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: F/C Xavier Tillman
With that said, there’s a significant difference between a poor shooter and a non-shooter. A poor shooter is easier to work with. Their sheer willingness to launch a triple keeps the offense humming. A non-shooter can be more difficult to work with.
Sure, there are workarounds. You can use a non-shooter as a roll man in pick-and-roll sets. They can cut. A non-shooter can hunt connective passes. Still, there’s no replacing floor spacing. Sometimes, those workarounds just aren’t worth the effort they require.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Xavier Tillman, Memphis Grizzlies & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
Take Vanderbilt. He’s an excellent passer. He’s a good cutter, and he can finish as a roll man in the pick-and-roll. Vanderbilt is also an elite defender. Yet, his inability to shoot was deemed too significant of a problem by the Lakers. Would Tillman fare much better?
Why The Los Angeles Lakers Do The Deal
We think so. Tillman is a poor shooter, but he will shoot. Defenses won’t scramble to close out on him, but they’re not necessarily going to sag off of him, either. All told he’s more likely to make this team’s playoff rotation than Vanderbilt.
Otherwise, the two are similar players. Their main value comes on the defensive end. Tillman is a stout defender. He can guard the interior and perimeter. This is the type of big man that any contender needs in their rotation.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Xavier Tillman, Memphis Grizzlies & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
By contrast, Reddish doesn’t feel like a strong candidate to make this team’s rotation, either. Of course, this all begs a question. The Grizzlies will have contending aspirations next year as well: why would they send the Lakers a useful player?
Why The Memphis Grizzlies Do The Deal
Well, the Grizzlies have a lot of versatile defensive bigs. Arguably, they’ve got too many. This team has a logjam of 5s. Someone has got to go.
Could it be Steven Adams? Perhaps. On the other hand, his offensive rebounding has been invaluable to Memphis. Meanwhile, Brandon Clarke is similar to Tillman, but just generally a bit better. Finally, we don’t even need to address Jaren Jackson Jr. The Grizzlies would only entertain trading him for an All-NBA superstar – if even then.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Xavier Tillman, Memphis Grizzlies & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
So, Tillman is the odd man out. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies need wing depth. Reddish has had a disappointing start to his NBA career, but he’s still got some upside. Besides: if nothing else, he can shoot.
Want the latest NBA analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click Here. Follow NBA Analysis Network on Twitter and Facebook.
