The best news for MD this year (besides his hand feeling better) is named "Frank". The staff pulled a rabbit out of the hat getting a reclassified 5 so late in the cycle. The hope is that Frank can give JB 15-17 minutes, protect the rim and make all the Sid/MD whistle-mania, out-of-position problems go away. Edwards is there if we're in a boxing match, or even JBA. That will mercifully reduce MD's minutes from 33 pg down to a more reasonable number, with QG's minutes declining a little bit as MD spends more time at PF. All that's fine .. because MD's just coming into his own. If his hand feels better and he's in his natural position, he might give us 13-15 pg. Guerrier is a solid backup - good on the glass, developing jumper, grip like a vice.
The other bench player to watch is Bras. I say this because even if Griff plays and is as good as advertised, you don't want him in the 30's like JG and Buddy last year. Bras is in his third year, he can shoot and, if healthy, he can rebound. I think he's the other key bench player for us unless Griff is denied a waiver. In that happens it's 'break glass in case of emergency' for the staff to figure out a SF solution.