Matt Barnes was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies this offseason in a move which many people said makes them easily the toughest team in the NBA now. Barnes has spent his 12 years in the NBA getting under peoples skin and playing physically and he is going to need that kind of attitude this year as he is reportedly going to get most of his time at power forward, according to Kevin Lipe of the Memphis Flyer.
The Grizzlies come into this season with clear starters in the frontcourt with Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol but they don't have much depth up front. The only backup big man that is guaranteed time is Brandan Wright which is why Barnes will likely have to backup Z-Bo at the four. Another reason why is that the Grizzlies are loaded on the wings. Courtney Lee and Jeff Green are expected to be the starters while Tony Allen and Vince Carter will come off the bench and the Grizzlies like Jordan Adams too and feel as though he could be a rotation player this year.
Barnes is the best suited of those guys to play the four, although Green can too, and he has experience doing so. Barnes will be undersized against most other power forwards in the league as he is just 6 foot-7 but he is tough as nails and won't back down from anyone. Barnes primarily played power forward from 2006-09 when he was with the Golden State Warriors and the Phoenix Suns but he has been mostly a small forward since 2009.
Barnes is now 35 years old but his advanced age, in NBA years, won't stop him from doing the dirty work down low while Randolph is resting. Barnes should give the Grizzlies an offensive advantage when he is in at the four as he can stretch the floor by knocking down threes (career 34 percent three point shooter) and he shouldn't give hurt them much at all defensively. Barnes averages 7 rebounds per 36 minutes in his career so he should be able to hold his own on the glass also.
Barnes is actually coming off one of the best seasons of his career with the Los Angeles Clippers when he averaged 10.1 points and 4.0 rebounds in 30 minutes per game while shooting 36 percent from three. The Grizzlies will be his ninth NBA team and they are happy to have him as he is versatile and will help them out in the frontcourt where they are extremely thin.
