Pros and cons of keeping Danny Green on the 2022-23 Grizzlies roster
By Reed Chapman
Injury concerns could force Memphis Grizzlies to part with Danny Green
While Danny Green is confident that he will be back before the all-star break, there is a real possibility that he will not be in game shape until the start of the playoffs.
Even if that is the case, there is no guarantee that Green will still be able to be as impactful as he has been in recent years, specifically on the defensive end. A torn ACL and LCL in your leg at any age is not easy to bounce back from, so with him being 35, it is realistic that his athleticism will take a hit and that he will not be able to keep up with some of the more athletic guards around the league anymore.
His game on the offensive end does not require hardly any athleticism, as he mainly scores on catch-and-shoot opportunities and spaces the floor for his teammates. Being an impactful defender, on the other hand, certainly requires lateral quickness and foot speed, which could be slightly lost after such an impactful injury.
Green was a much better on-ball defender last season than some give him credit for, as he ranked in the 85.2 percentile on-ball amongst all players according to Bball Index. While it is not a guarantee, there is a real chance that number slightly decreases when he returns. There is also a possibility that the major injury he sustained could lead to more nagging injury problems in the future.
The Grizzlies front office could look at this situation and decide that if Green will not be available for a majority of the season, then it will not be worth using a roster spot on him.
Injury concerns surrounding Danny Green are definitely a con on whether he should stay in Memphis next season or not.