Zach Edey continues to progress along the rehab trajectory that the Grizzlies expected and has been medically cleared for on-court activity, according to Chris Herrington of The Daily Memphian (Twitter link). At the team’s media day on Monday, general manager Zach Kleiman said the third-year center is on pace to play in the October 21 season opener and may even see some action during the preseason.

Edey was limited to 11 games last season after undergoing two surgical procedures on his left ankle. The first operation took place in June of 2025 to address “excessive ligamentous laxity,” and the second procedure was done in March to relieve ongoing discomfort and bone stress in the ankle.

“There’s still good and bad days with it,” Edey said Monday about his recovery process (Twitter link). “That’s just part of the rehab, but on the good days I feel more athletic than I ever have.”

Edey, who finished fifth in the 2024/25 Rookie of the Year balloting, was effective in his brief playing time last season, averaging 13.6 points, 11.1 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 25.8 minutes per night while shooting 63.3% from the field. Memphis was 7-4 in the games that he was available.

There’s more from Memphis:

• Also on Monday, Kleiman discussed the decision to trade Ja Morant to Portland after seven years with the team, per Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal (Twitter link). Morant once appeared to be on the path to stardom, but injuries and off-court issues over the past three years have derailed his career. He also clashed with the coaching staff last season and reportedly privately expressed a desire to be traded. Kleiman said it was time for the organization to “pick a lane” regarding Morant’s future.
• Head coach Tuomas Iisalo is optimistic about what a healthy Ty Jerome can bring to the team, Cole states (Twitter link). Iisalo noted that in his 15 games last season, Jerome posted an efficiency pace that only Luka Doncic has matched over a full year.
• Micah Peavy, who was acquired from New Orleans earlier this month, is currently sidelined after turning his ankle, according to Cole (Twitter link). Kleiman said it will be a while before the team sees him in action. Peavy is among the players who are at risk of being victims of a roster crunch this fall, with Memphis carrying 18 players on standard contracts.
• Kleiman called it a “wait and see” situation with Richie Saunders, the team’s still unsigned second-round pick, Cole adds (Twitter link). The former BYU star suffered an ACL tear in February and may miss a significant part of the season while he recovers.