I Love Yuta Watanabe… And So Can You

Once the last dust and final repercussions of the NBA trade deadline had settled… What was the Grizzlies’ prize? Was it the prize they needed? Or was it the one they deserved?

Was it someone capable of moving the needle up? Or moving the needle down for that matter? Was it a guy who would make a difference—good or bad—on this roster?

Or was it Yuta Watanabe?

If you answered the latter than I imagine you—like myself—were beside yourself. Beside yourself with glee that is. After the roster recalibration that occurred resulting in Yuta’s homecoming?

I for one was happier than a tornado in a trailer park with that conclusion. Now… will it wind up as the ultimate conclusion to ‘The Shoota’ and his saga in Memphis? I reckon the jury is still out on that one.

That won’t stop me from having a profuond desire to keep him in Memphis… And apart from that, for Watanabe to succeed here.

Now, is that faith misplaced? I’ve heard many argue that he’s “not a good basketball player, plain and simple”. I can almost hear the jeers now… “Why would you want a career 37.2% shooter from three on this team?”

To that I say… Well why worry about that percentage? That would be higher than Jaren Jackson Jr.’s this season. It would be higher than Vince Williams Jr.’s. It would be higher than Santi Aldama’s, Marcus Smart’s… You seeing my point?

Sure if you look at his recent play you may turn up your nose. Round 2 in Memphis has left much to desire in these early portions… And his time in Phoenix doesn’t scream “legitamate hooper” too loud either…

But look a tad bit deeper though if you will–look to his final season in Brooklyn.

Because that was the season when I fell in love with the basketball player, Yuta Watanabe. Or at least fell in love with the ideal version of him. And the ideal version of him is someone this roster could use.

What is this ideal version you may ask? Well for my money it’s a three point marksman… One who is not a net negative on defense, but one who hustles… That helps you space the floor.

A ‘Luke Kennard variant’, as it were.

And that’s what Yuta can be. Again. Look at the final Brooklyn season. Per Cleaning the Glass, he played roughly 30.0% of minutes at the 3. His efficiency differential in these minutes? It was in the leagues 87th percentile.

His shooting was elite ala Kennard that season as well. That season—again this is all per Cleaning the Glass—his shots at the rim were in the league’s 85th percentile. And his corner threes? He was making those at a rate placing him in the 89th percentile of the leauge.

That season, above all things, proved Watanabe could flourish as a role-player. And one in Memphis too.

The team plays fast yes? Yuta’s transition stats were… Well they would make him a perfect fit. His transition points per+/possession (points added per 100 possessions)? Ranked in the league’s 99th (?!?) percentile. His pts/play (transition efficiency)? The league’s 94th percentile.

Trying to tell me that version of Yuta you wouldn’t want on this roster? Coming in and knocking down a couple transition corner threes?

Why would you not?

Now… I do understand why the Grizzlies would not… And that’s unfortunate.

Watanabe has no doubt been playing at a significant level less than his ultimate stint with the Nets. He’s shown he’s still got it on occasion but that may not be enough.

The roster is also very full. As is look at the current projected rotation for next season:

• Ja Morant
• Desmond Bane
• Jaren Jackson Jr.
• Marcus Smart
• Vince Williams Jr.
• Brandon Clarke
• Luke Kennard
• GG Jackson II
• Santi Aldama

That’s nine guys. Plus you may want to plug in a starting center. That’s ten. Plus we know Memphis deploys a back-up point guard. We also know they like Derrick Rose. Let’s assume they keep him. Or at the very least fill that spot with a veteran in free agency and that’s… eleven.

Watanabe would be lucky to crack the rotation at all. That’s before we even get to John Konchar and Lamar Stevens. Guys who do everything you need them to.

Now… There’s a chance he’s not on the roster and on no account of the Grizzlies. His contract has a player option for next year that he has yet to opt in to.

Because as much as I love Yuta Watanabe, the final question I leave you with is… Would he want to be on this team next year?

Think about it—I expect Yuta to play in Japan this summer. He has the potential to get increased minutes… As well an increase in salary compared to his $2.6-ish player option. Should he chose to not opt in to the option and instead play in Japan?

Well the Grizzlies would be off the hook. Off the hook, when it comes to any financial or roster obligation. And it would be an amicable split—no bad blood.

Because you could argue that it would also be much better for Yuta Watanabe in the long-run. And that’s what this about right? Rememebr I love Yuta Watanabe… And so can you.

Photo Credit: (Brandon Dill/AP Photo)