Peter Edmiston

Memphis Commercial Appeal

While the Grizzlies belatedly introduced four new players to their roster during a Monday afternoon press conference at FedExForum, it turned out the players already had become well-acquainted at a private, voluntary, players-only minicamp in Los Angeles last month.

Newcomers Kyle Anderson, Garrett Temple, Shelvin Mack and Omri Casspi all took to the dais in the FedExForum grand lobby a week away from beginning training camp with their new team. But they’ve already been working together for a while, Temple said.

“When I got traded, Jevon (Carter) was the first guy to reach out to me, but Mike Conley let me know we were having a minicamp in Los Angeles,” Temple said. “I didn’t know how many guys would be there. I’ve had minicamps on two teams before, and we had maybe 10 or 11 guys, but I think there were about 16 of us there this time. We got together to eat, play pickup, just get to know each other.”

Temple went on to say that the camaraderie didn’t end in Los Angeles.

“I always come in (to report to the team) Tuesday after Labor Day," Temple said. "And I’ve never been in a gym with basically the whole team already there.”

Developing chemistry is going to be vital for the Grizzlies to exceed what are relatively meager expectations (33 wins this season, if Vegas is to be believed), and this group is seemingly well ahead of the curve in doing just that.

Grizzlies coach J.B. Bickerstaff wasn’t surprised by the self-starting drive of his new players.

“(I was) able to sit down with the front office and ownership and put together a plan of what we wanted to look like and who we’re trying to be,” Bickerstaff said. “We talked about guys who were gritty, intelligent, unselfish by nature, guys whose primary focus is doing something for a purpose greater than themselves. When you look at these four guys, we were able to hit a home run in all those categories.”

The players played alongside rookie Jaren Jackson Jr., about whom Anderson raved, “It’s funny; he can’t even control his body. He’s so big and athletic he’s blocking shots with his elbows!” Anderson also said Conley and Chandler Parsons looked “game-ready.”

For his own part, Anderson said he wasn’t seeking validation with his newfound four-year contract, but he thinks he took a positive step with his performance for the Spurs last season. Anderson played far more minutes last year as Kawhi Leonard dealt with a season-ending thigh injury. Anderson said the situation wasn’t completely surprising, but it provided a boost in confidence.

“I don’t want to say it was shocking, but it gave me a sense of relief that I can play at this level,” Anderson said. “Maybe my first three years, I had doubts, or subconsciously it wasn’t going my way, but last year gave me a sense of comfort that I am capable of doing it. But just because I did it my fourth year doesn’t mean I’m doing it this year. I have to earn that trust all over again.”

He probably will do so. Anderson was the jewel in the Grizzlies’ summer crown. In spite of his 6-foot-9 frame, he primarily played point guard in college, but he moved to more of an off-ball role in San Antonio through his first three seasons. He did play a bit more of a ball-handling role last season, and it’s there where he feels most comfortable.

“Looking back, that’s just where I’ve had my best years, with the ball in my hands. Let’s be honest, playing off the ball maybe isn’t one of my strong points. Some guys are really good at it in this league, but with the ball in my hands, I’m a little bit better.”

How Bickerstaff uses Anderson will be one of the most intriguing story lines of training camp; the Grizzlies have multiple ball handlers capable of initiating offense. Casspi, Anderson and Temple all will play multiple positions for the Grizzlies this year. Mack’s role is likely to fluctuate based on Conley’s and Carter’s recoveries from injury and Andrew Harrison’s progress. But early signs are that a selfless Grizzlies team is beginning to emerge, embodied best by Anderson himself.

“I feel like I do a lot of things on the basketball court," he said, "so whatever the team needs me to do is what I’m willing to give.”

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