Santi Aldama got rewarded with a new three-year, $52.5 million contract this offseason before entering restricted free agency. His value was the highest it has been throughout his four-year career after averaging career-highs in points (12.5), rebounds (6.4), assists (2.9), field goal percentage (38.3%), and three-point percentage (36.8%).
However, before Santi Aldama was re-signed by the Memphis Grizzlies, one of his closest friends on the team was traded, in shooting guard Desmond Bane. That trade alone puts more pressure on Aldama to step up for a team that will need to replace his near 20 points-per-game scoring average.