You know Memphis Grizzlies basketball has returned when the team's PR account tweets injury updates that have had the fanbase nervous for the last couple of injury-riddled seasons. Just days before they begin training camp, a new update on various players was released with a surprise addition.
Reserve big man Brandon Clarke suffered another knee injury that will require a procedure and keep him out for at least six weeks. Clarke missed the team's final 12 games last season after suffering a PCL sprain that he was expected to return from in time for the start of the next regular season.
He is fully healed from that previous injury, but his new injury in the same knee brings a major concern to the Grizzlies' frontcourt and his future. His injury status brought dread to an otherwise good report from the team's other offseason injuries.
The Grizzlies' have a frontcourt problem to begin the season
Santi Aldama is the Grizzlies' only healthy returning frontcourt player who played significant minutes from last season, and he's considered more of a tweener. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Zach Edey were already expected to miss time after offseason surgeries, and their updates provided promise that they will return soon.
Jackson Jr. and Edey make up the Grizzlies' starting frontcourt and were announced to be cleared to ramp up basketball activities for a return. Jaren Jackson Jr.'s return could be as early as the team's first regular-season game, which would be a welcome scenario for the Grizzlies. Zach Edey's return timeline places his return near the middle of November, which is still early in the season.
Brandon Clarke was expected to lessen the blow of Zach Edey's absence, along with offseason addition Jock Landale. However, the pressure will now shift to their two-way signee, PJ Hall, to play early-season minutes at the center position without Clarke and Edey.
Jaren Jackson Jr. will return early enough that the team won't have issues at power forward with Santi Aldama in the fold, and GG Jackson, who can play minutes at the position as well. With the roster fully intact, the Grizzlies have no solution outside of the organization for addressing the center position.
The last three seasons haven't been kind to Brandon Clarke, as he has had two season-ending injuries, with one of the injuries (torn Achilles) limiting him to only six games the following season. With him expecting to miss at least the first month of this regular season, the Grizzlies can't depend on the healthy version of him going forward.