Draymond Green is expected to make his much-awaited return to the Golden State Warriors rotation on Monday (Jan. 15) when they face the Memphis Grizzlies, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. Green has missed the past 16 games, 12 of them due to suspension, with the other four being credited to working back toward competition fitness.

Golden State will likely be excited to have their veteran leader back on the court. Green’s ability to read the floor, marshall the defense, and make his presence felt on offense will all be key additions to a struggling rotation.

Green has only played in 15 of the Warriors 39 games. He hasn’t had the opportunity to get into a rhythm and provide the impact we’ve become used to seeing from him. Now that he is back in the lineup and healthy, Steve Kerr can begin to roll out his championship-winning core in the hope that Green’s presence can begin to turn the tide of the season.

Whether Green has been the missing piece remains to be seen, but his presence in the rotation has certainly been missed.

Story originally appeared on Warriors Wire