<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">So far, the Grizzlies have not made use of the NBDL. But barring significant injuries in Wednesday night's game against Dallas, that's about to change. Grizzlies coach Mike Fratello indicated before Wednesday's game at FedExForum that the team was strongly considering sending rookies Lawrence Roberts and Anthony Roberson to their NBDL affiliate, the Arkansas RimRockers, during the Grizzlies' upcoming six-game road trip. "It's a combination of how many days of practice vs. how many games they can get under their belt," Fratello said. "We've got a couple of days before we leave to make that decision." The Grizzlies' road trip begins Saturday night in Milwaukee and stretches through a Feb. 13 game at Golden State. Seattle selected Roberts, a 6-9, 240-pound forward who played his junior and senior seasons at Mississippi State, in the second round of the NBA Draft (55th overall) and traded his rights to the Grizzlies. Roberson, a 6-2 guard, played three seasons for Florida and signed with the Grizzlies as a free agent. Neither has played much this season, yet were needed in Memphis just to help the Grizzlies get through practices. "We were suffering from being short-handed," Fratello said. "We had to have bodies here." </div> Source
I don't see a point in sending Roberts down. Whilst a rookie, the guy is mature and has proven capable. I wouldn't mind sending Hakim down for a week or two, just to give him some confidence and a stack of PT.
While it kills me to look down at the bench every game and see them in dress suits, I'd rather have them in Memphis than in Arkansas. I really think the whole NBDL 'experience' is overrated. They'd probably learn more practicing with the Grizzlies than they would by playing games for the Rimrockers. It's important that if a guy like Atkins were to go down, we'd have a legit backup point guard like Roberson who knows the plays.
I'm still baffled why Roberts isn't active. Our rebounding is horrible and he showed earlier in the year that's he's a very solid, hard rebounder. Sure he has weaknesses, but it'd be great to have a guy who is actually willing to bang the boards hard every night.
