Xavier Henry available but not in Griz plan

Rookie Xavier Henry is back in a Grizzlies uniform and available for action, but that's where his status begins and ends.

Henry isn't any closer to returning to the rotation after returning earlier this week from a sore right knee.

The 6-6 guard needs to improve his conditioning after missing 15 straight games. Griz coach Lionel Hollins also would have to find a reason to change the lineup that has given him confidence, with Sam Young and Tony Allen splitting time at shooting guard with O.J. Mayo.

"When there's an opportunity to put him in the game or a need to put him in the game, he'll go in the game," Hollins said. "But I'm not really thinking about working him back in. What happens when you get hurt, the team keeps evolving and moving to its level. When that happens, you sometimes get left behind when you're not in the mix."

Henry now says he's accepted the reality of playing with some discomfort.

"(The knee) getting better," said Henry, who dressed Wednesday for a third straight game. "It's not great but I don't expect it to be. I'm able to play with it. I'm going to have to play (with some pain). I'll probably have to do that for a while but at least I'll be out there playing."

When guys get to play and they do what they're supposed to do, you're not going to just change and go back," Hollins said. "We'd go backwards if we put (Henry) in the starting lineup now and put him ahead of other people. We've grown and moved away from where we were when he got hurt."