Ziaire Williams impresses, but the Memphis Grizzlies' fifth starting spot remains open
Ziaire Williams made his statement.
The 6-foot-9 Memphis Grizzlies forward pump-faked a 3-pointer as Milwaukee Bucks wing Jae Crowder went flying by, then he took one more dribble before winding back and throwing down a one-handed tomahawk dunk. Williams' quick takeoff led to TyTy Washington making the smart business decision of not challenging his shot, but the Grizzlies forward still tapped the topped of his head on the way back up the floor, signaling that he dunked over the Bucks defender.
Williams' confidence is high. He scored 10 points on 4-for-9 shooting in the Grizzlies' 108-102 win against the Bucks.
The third-year forward earned his first preseason start on Tuesday as the Grizzlies search for that fifth starter. As well as Williams played, Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins isn't ready to commit yet, so the fifth starter competition lives on.
"We're all just trying to win," Williams said. "Play hard and win. Nobody has any animosity with each other. I'm just trying to do what I can, whether I'm starting or coming off the bench."
Luke Kennard got the start Sunday and finished with six points. Derrick Rose's sparkling debut made some spectators wonder if he should be an option for the fifth spot, but that doesn't appear to be the case.
Kennard struggled to shoot in his start, but that's the least of anyone's worries as it pertains to him. Where Williams can separate himself in the competition is on the defensive end, which is what Jenkins said will be the main determining factor on who gets the final nod.
"(Ziaire's) really doing a good job chasing off-ball screens and not really getting stuck on that," Jenkins said. "That was something he struggled at last year, so glad that he's kind of embracing that."
The competition isn't just Kennard and Williams. Don't shut the door on one of the second-year first-round picks just yet.
Jake LaRavia continues to make his case by showing more of the offensive aggression that coaches and teammates have been asking for since he arrived in Memphis. He scored 15 points in the preseason opener and added 16 on Tuesday.
Like his teammates, defense will be the deciding factor on how much he gets to see the floor. Jenkins has had conversations with LaRavia specifically about what he wants to see on defense.
"Just being able to keep someone in front of me," LaRavia said. "Being able to guard any position. Being that wing defender that just is not a liability on defense."
Defense is where David Roddy has gotten most of his opportunities. His offensive improvement will be just as important. He's scored 20 points through two preseason games on 8-for-14 shooting.
There's also John Konchar, who didn't play in Tuesday's game. He was the first wing off the bench on Sunday and has been one of the Grizzlies' most productive players in the past two seasons with his net rating.
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The Grizzlies have three preseason games remaining. The hope is that a decision will be made by the season opener on Oct. 25 against the New Orleans Pelicans, but Jenkins conceded that the battle could sprinkle into the regular season.
Kennard and Williams have gotten starts so far. Will the battle become a two-man race, or will Roddy, Konchar and LaRavia get starting opportunities? Jenkins ended his postgame news conference on Tuesday with a teaser.
"Potentially," Jenkins said with a grin on his face. "TBD. Day to day."
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Grizzlies' fifth starting spot remains open after two games
