The Memphis Grizzlies are set in their starting lineup at the point guard spot and the two big man spots but on the wings there are major question marks. Memphis has six options that they could start at the two different wing spots but it is unclear as of right now what they might do. The favorites to start are Courtney Lee and Jeff Green but Green might be better suited for a bench role, according to Chris Herrington of The Memphis Commercial Appeal.
The Grizzlies have been looking for a wing scorer for years to go along with their dominant big men (Zach Randolph & Marc Gasol) and Mike Conley which is why they traded for Green during last season. When Green came over he started the majority of the games he played with the Grizzlies and was pretty solid but it is fair to wonder whether he may be best suited to come off the bench.
Green is not a very good defender and is at his best when he is scoring the ball which are the attributes you expect from a sixth man. With Gasol, Randolph and Conley in the starting lineup Green is likely the fourth scoring option if he were to start. Coming off the bench Green would most likely be the top scoring option and would give a big boost to their second unit.
It's not like the Grizzlies don't have other solid options to start over Green. Lee is a solid player that can do a lot of different things, Tony Allen is a lock-down defender and they are extremely high on Jordan Adams. The likelihood, if head coach Dave Joerger decides to bring Green off the bench, is that Lee and Allen start together. The Grizzlies also have Vince Carter and Matt Barnes as wing players but Carter will definitely come off the bench and the Grizzlies plan to use Barnes primarily as a stretch four this season.
As of right now it seems like Green will likely be in the starting lineup come opening day but the point raised by Herrington is a good one. Without Green in that second unit there isn't much scoring and his scoring ability is likely being wasted as the fourth option with the starters so this is something Joerger will really have to consider.
In 45 games with Memphis last season, 37 starts, Green averaged 13.1 points and 4.2 rebounds in 30.2 minutes per game. Green was averaging 17.6 points per game with the Celtics before being traded, as the number one option on that team, so he will definitely be capable of leading the second unit should they decide to go that route.
