Starter No. 5 Justise Winslow
This is a tentative pick because Justise Winslow is an enigma. Injuries aside the profile of Winslow is a 6’6” playmaking forward who can barrel to the ring and defend at a decent level.
Winslow only played 11 games in the 19-20 season who his most recent and “accurate” stat line was in the 18-19 season. Winslow averaged 12.6 points per game, 4 assists per game, and 6.6 rebounds per game in 66 games for the Miami Heat.
The best we ever saw of Justise Winslow was the “Point Justise” saga early in the 2018-2019 season. Goran Dragic was out with an injury and a hamstrung Erik Spoelstra put Winslow at point guard.
From December 8th to January 15th (17 games) Winslow averaged 15 points per game, 5.1 assists per game and 5.4 rebounds. While still being a physical defender — with one of his best defensive performances coming against Kawhi Leonard.
If it sounds like I’m grasping at straws, it’s because I am. Winslow was either injured or when he was healthy, he was trying to mold himself a role in the conundrum that was the post-LeBron Miami Heat.
The best-case scenario for Winslow playing with the Grizzlies is that he can become a two-way, secondary ball-handler next to Morant. On offense driving the ball into the paint, both finishing and kicking out to shooters — on defense being a pestering defensive duo with Dillon Brooks on the wing.
The worst case is… What we’ve seen with Winslow’s career thus far, not being able to get on the court and eating up money ($13 million dollars a year until 2022) on the team’s payroll.
Starter No. 4 Jonas Valančiūnas
Jonas Valančiūnas is your typical no-nonsense, old-school center. Jump hooks, screens, rebounding and just being a physical force inside the paint.
Valančiūnas averaged 14.9 points per game, 11.3 rebounds per game, and 1.1 blocks per game in the 19-20 season. He’s grown to be a productive passer, he had a career-high 1.9 assist per game this season.
Speaking of improvements, he’s shown small improvements in his shooting year by year. This past season he averaged 1.3 3-point attempts per game making 35 percent, with making 74 percent of his free throws.
Valančiūnas is essential to the Grizzlies currently, and going forward. Because Jaren Jackson Jr. is a foul magnet, and in his short career already has had an alarming amount of lower-body injuries.
Valančiūnas is a great screener and a pick and roll partner for the collection of ball-handlers on the team, while still being a bruising defender in the paint. With also providing a break in case of an emergency post-up threat for the Grizzlies offense, if ever needed.