Staff writer Scott Howard-Cooper is part of The Bee's coverage team that is blogging extensively from Kings training camp. Here are excerpts from two recent entries. To read more, go to www.sacbee.com/kingsblog.
The Newark (N.J.) Star-Ledger asked Vince Carter about the standouts in the early days of Nets training camp. Oak Ridge High School product Ryan Anderson was the first name out of Carter's mouth: "His development, from watching him in the summer league to now, has been just tremendous."
Yep, that'll work for a good start to a career.
Vinsanity doesn't have the cache of old, but he's still the biggest name on the Nets, and if he draws a straight line between a No. 21 pick and immediately impressive, it's worthwhile. Anderson already had the confidence boost of going relatively high in the first round, after he sweated out dropping into the second and away from guaranteed money. Now, the top returning scorer is lining up behind him.
Of actual, tangible importance, Anderson has an immediate chance at a meaningful role. Part of it is that everyone does. The Nets are sorting through a new roster and avoiding serious financial commitments in a fiscal holding pattern to save cap space for a run at LeBron James in summer 2010. If anything, they'll move salaries out over time. Anderson will be a candidate there as well because, again, everyone at the Meadowlands is fair game for everything with the likely exception of point guard Devin Harris.
And part of it is that Anderson is NBA-ready in so many ways that coaches love. Good guy who works hard and doesn't distract. Advanced basketball IQ. Skilled passer with an unselfish mind-set. Able to score inside and from the perimeter during two seasons at Cal.
If Anderson shoots well – history indicates he will, but there's no way to know for sure in this transition time of better, stronger, quicker defenders – he plays. If he defends at all – the real question with a lack of quickness to stay with small forwards and a lack of strength to slam-dance with power forwards – he plays a lot and potentially turns into a steal.
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