National Basketball Association

Prince, Daye, Davis make debuts for Grizzlies

Published Feb. 2, 2013 1:17 a.m. ET

foxsports

Tayshaun Prince, Austin Daye and Ed Davis, all obtained by the Memphis Grizzlies in a three-team deal earlier this week, were expected to be in uniform for Friday night's game against the Washington Wizards.

Prince and Daye, who came from the Detroit Pistons, and Davis, who was part of the trade that sent Grizzlies leading scorer Rudy Gay to the Toronto Raptors, were cleared to play earlier Friday.

Memphis coach Lionel Hollins said none of the three would move into the starting lineup, leaving Jerryd Bayless, who replaced Gay in Thursday night's loss to Oklahoma City, in the starting role. But Hollins said he expects the players to take on roles immediately.

''Since we don't score a lot of points, they will be able to mesh really well,'' Hollins said with a laugh.

All three of the new players were available to the media before the game. Prince, who had played in Detroit since being drafted in the first round in 2002, is expected to eventually replace Gay in the Grizzlies' lineup.

''I thought I would be there longer than this,'' Prince said. ''I thought they felt comfortable with what I was doing there as far as trying to put the team in the right direction, so I was pretty shocked at what happened.''

He later added: ''Just a lot of mixed emotions at the time, but it's a change now, and it's time to start the new chapter.''

Prince also insisted he is not coming to Memphis to replace Gay because they provide different skills on the court. He expects to just play his style and provide leadership.

''Hopefully, me, Ed and Austin can just bring what we do best and help the team out that way,'' he said, ''as opposed to trying to find one of these guys to replace what Rudy did because it's not going to happen.''