Wayne Selden should be key player for Memphis Grizzlies’ future

Wayne Selden recently returned to the lineup and has already made big contributions to the Memphis Grizzlies. He’s a player worth keeping.

Through this season’s hardships, there has been one silver lining: the youth. Granted, there’s nobody on this team tearing it up like Donovan Mitchell, Jayson Tatum or Ben Simmons. However, there have been some pleasant surprises such as Deyonta Davis, Dillon Brooks and Kobi Simmons. One young player who has flown under the radar though is Wayne Selden.

The Summer League sensation has missed 33 games this season due to a quad injury. A few games back from injury, and Selden is already showing promise. In his two games back, he’s averaging 11.5 points and shooting 3-7 from deep.

In this “buy or sell” series, Wayne Selden is a “buy” without question. He’s an explosive wing who could become a two-way threat in a hurry. The Memphis Grizzlies would be foolish to let him slip away.

Why should the Grizzlies buy into Selden? Could he develop into a NBA starter?

Scoring

Since Rudy Gay left, the Grizzlies have lacked a perimeter scorer. They’ve tried to shore up his loss with the likes of Tayshaun Prince, Quincy Pondexter, Jeff Green and Chandler Parsons, but to no avail. This season, they’ve found scoring threats from the wing in Tyreke Evans and Wayne Selden.

He’s only played 18 games into his career, but Selden has already shown quite the scoring repertoire. He can shoot the ball from deep, and he can score off the dribble in the mid-range. His handle is impressive enough to get past a variety of perimeter defenders, and he possesses nice elevation on his jumpshot.

Selden also has the build and explosiveness to attack the basket and finish inside. As he continues to receive more minutes and experience, look for him to capitalize on that ability to get opportunities at the free throw line.

Recently, I said the Grizzlies should look to run more sets for Dillon Brooks to tap into his scoring potential. In the meantime, they should do the same with Wayne Selden. I know you shouldn’t buy into Summer League that much, but he’s shown the capabilities of being a legitimate scorer in this league. He may not be a 23-26 point a game scorer, but he can easily average 15 points a game in his prime.

The Grizzlies have lacked a young player with Selden’s offensive skillset, and they need to tap into it as soon as possible.

Related Story: Grizzlies should invest in Dillon Brooks

Defensive Stopper?

The Grizzlies have openly said they were grooming Dillon Brooks to become a defensive stopper. With Wayne Selden, they have two players who could become two-way threats in this league.

In last year’s playoffs, he had a go at Kawhi Leonard. While the MVP finalist still got his buckets, it was admirable to see a rookie fearlessly take the challenge.

At 6’5″ and 230 pounds, Selden has the size and quickness to become a solid defender at the NBA level. He can guard positions 1-3 — maybe even the 4 given the matchup — and that allows him to switch on anything.

Selden plays the game with an “attack” mentality, and he has the same mindset on the less glamorous end of the court. The Grizzlies need to put him into situations where his defense is valuable, even if it means guarding the best player on the court.

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• Jaren Jackson Jr. puts ex-Grizzlies teammate on notice
• 3 players Grizzlies would consider trading Ja Morant for
• Grizzlies star Jaren Jackson Jr. put on blast following FIBA elimination
• Ex-Grizzlies guard signs with title favorite, joins forces with 6-time All-Star

Closing Remarks

Wayne Selden is the most fascinating prospect on the Memphis Grizzlies.

No one really knows what’s his ceiling and how good he can really be. He’s obviously shown he’s deserving of a rotation spot rather quickly. Coming into the season, you could make an argument that the starting shooting guard spot was his for the taking. Can he continue to mold into a legitimate two-way player in this league?

Only time will tell, and it’s looking quite promising.

If he were a stock, I’d advise you to buy into it. He’s a captivating prospect who could become a really good NBA player.