The Memphis Grizzlies are getting Zach Edey back on the floor Friday night in Chicago, and head coach Tuomas Iisalo said the big man should log more minutes than he did in his preseason debut Wednesday.
That’s a welcome step for Memphis as Edey keeps building toward the regular season. The former Purdue standout returned to game action Wednesday, and now the Grizzlies will get another look at him against the Bulls with a heavier workload.
Per Tuomas Iisalo…Zach Edey will play again tonight for @memgrizz in Chicago. Edey will also play more minutes tonight than he did in his debut Wednesday.
The exact minute total hasn’t been disclosed, but the message is clear: Memphis wants to keep ramping him up. For a third-year center trying to settle into a rhythm, every preseason run matters. It’s a chance to sharpen conditioning, strengthen chemistry with teammates and keep stacking live reps before the games start counting.
Edey’s presence gives the Grizzlies a different look around the basket. His size changes things on both ends, especially when Memphis is trying to rebound, score inside and protect the paint. That makes his health and consistency a key part of the preseason picture.
On the other side of the injury ledger, Isaiah Stewart will have to wait for more information on his recovery. Stewart is dealing with a moderate left ankle sprain and will be reevaluated in two weeks.
Memphis Grizzlies center Isaiah Stewart (moderate left ankle sprain) will be reevaluated in two weeks. pic.twitter.com/NMmaZja4ci
The reevaluation won’t automatically mean Stewart is ready to return, but it should give the team a clearer sense of where he stands and whether he can move closer to basketball activities.
So for now, Edey is trending in the right direction, while Stewart’s timeline remains on hold until the next checkup.
In Other News...
Paolo Banchero Just Weighed In On Cameron Boozers Early NBA Impression
Cameron Boozers first preseason look against Orlando offered a useful early snapshot for Memphis, and it came with some encouragement from the other side. In a matchup with the Magic, the Grizzlies rookie scored 16 points as he shared the floor with Paolo Banchero, giving Memphis a glimpse of how his game can translate against NBA-level size and pace before the season begins.
Banchero also came away impressed after seeing Boozer during Orlandos training camp, pointing to the rookies poise and the way he carried himself in a pro setting. For the Grizzlies, that kind of early praise matters because it fits the profile they were hoping for when they added him, with the bigger question now being how quickly that calm, efficient approach can turn into a real rotation role. [Read more 🡒]
Grizzlies Ended Up On The Wrong Side Of Caleb Wilsons Viral Night
Caleb Wilson made sure the preseason matchup in Memphis had a little extra buzz, even in a game the Grizzlies eventually won 104-100. The first-round pick for Chicago was one of the nights biggest draw, sharing the stage with fellow first-rounder Cameron Boozer and steadily taking over after halftime, when Wilson poured in 20 of his 21 points.
The sequence that traveled fastest on social media came when Wilson created separation on a made three after his defender went down, turning a routine preseason possession into the kind of clip that gets replayed immediately. Wilson then had a chance to tilt the game late with another three-point try in the final seconds, but it stayed out, leaving Memphis with the result and Wilson with a performance that was equal parts highlight reel and near-miss. [Read more 🡒]
Grizzlies New Core Already Has One All-Star Debate Taking Shape
The Grizzlies young core is already getting early All-Star scrutiny, and for good reason. Memphis has two front-line pieces in Cameron Boozer and Zach Edey drawing attention, with Boozer bringing the kind of rookie impact that quickly gets people talking and Edey continuing to build a case as one of the teams most important interior anchors. With the Western Conference looking a little thinner than usual, there is at least a plausible path for Memphis to turn promise into recognition sooner than expected.
Still, the race for those spots is crowded, and the NBAs new All-Star format only adds another layer to the debate. Edeys underlying performance numbers have been strong enough to keep him in the conversation, while Boozer has the buzz that often follows a player whose rise feels ahead of schedule. The question for Memphis is whether one of them can turn that momentum into a true league-wide breakthrough before the rest of the field closes the door. [Read more 🡒]