Memphis Grizzlies: Play one, bench one — John Konchar vs. Jarrett Culver

Jarrett Culver, Memphis Grizzlies (Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports)
Jarrett Culver, Memphis Grizzlies (Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports)
Memphis Grizzlies
John Konchar, Memphis Grizzlies (Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports)

The Memphis Grizzlies will have a battle brewing deep on the depth chart during training camp between John Konchar and Jarrett Culver.

While training camp is just getting started, depth charts are already circulating online of who will be backing up the starters on this year’s Memphis Grizzlies squad. With only so many minutes in a game and so many positions available, some players are going to miss out on playing time.

One intriguing spot is the fourth wing off the bench.

With Dillon Brooks and Kyle Anderson being the likely starters, you have several serviceable backups for each player.

De’Anthony Melton and Desmond Bane seem like locks to be the first wings off the bench, closely followed by rookie Ziaire Williams. What about the next spot? That would make the final wing spot up for grabs between John Konchar and Jarrett Culver.

The two players have very similar stat lines from last season, despite Culver being the more highly-touted player.

Konchar, a fan favorite with the Memphis Grizzlies, averaged 4.3 points, 3 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game in 13.4 minutes of play on average last season. With the Timberwolves, Jarrett Culver averaged 5.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 0.7 assists in 14.7 minutes per game.

With virtually identical stats, it’s a toss-up as to who will get that coveted fourth wing spot on the bench. Surely Memphis Grizzlies Head Coach Taylor Jenkins will use training camp and preseason play to evaluate and determine who should get the nod for the fourth spot.

All of this could be a wash if Jenkins decides to go with a different starting line-up of Morant, Bane, Brooks, Anderson, Jackson. It would put Melton as the first wing off the bench, followed by Williams and then Konchar and Culver could each see rotation minutes in that hypothetical lineup.

Who would you play and who would you bench between John Konchar and Jarrett Culver?