Grizzlies Media Day revealed plenty of positives, but arguably the biggest one relates to Zach Edey. After a dominant start to his second season that got cut short due to an ankle injury, Zach Edey has now been fully cleared to return to basketball activities.
Zach Edey is cleared to be a full go. The Grizzlies may be conservative with his usage in the preseason, but they’re encouraged with his progress.
— Damichael Cole (@DamichaelC) September 28, 2026
There were some early concerns about if Edey would have been ready for the start of training camp and preseason. However, Grizzlies fans can breathe and be excited that they get to see a promising frontcourt duo in Zach Edey and Cam Boozer right away.
It was a small sample size, but Zach Edey showed signs of becoming a dominant defensive force while also becoming more comfortable on offense. In 11 games Edey averaged 13.6 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.5 stocks (steals and blocks) in 25.6 minutes per game while anchoring an elite defense in that stretch.
Boozer and Edey can be significant floor raisers
Understandably, there should be plenty of questions early in a rebuild. Will Tuomas Iisalo be willing to adjust his rotation patterns? Will the Grizzlies' guards be able to step up following the Ja Morant trade? There are plenty of fair questions to consider, but if there is one strength the Grizzlies could have early, it's the Cam Boozer and Zach Edey duo.
At Duke and this past Summer League campaign, Cam Boozer has shown all the signs of being a foundational franchise piece in Memphis. But, with being the third overall pick in a strong 2026 NBA Draft class on paper and having arrived just before the Ja Morant trade, there is added pressure to be good right away.
However, given his offensive versatility and the fact he's strong on the glass, Boozer should be able to immediately form a high-level duo with Zach Edey. Edey will certainly benefit from Boozer's playmaking skills, while Boozer will benefit from playing next to a high-level rim protector in Edey. If the Grizzlies make a play-in push, it will likely be because of Boozer and Edey thriving right away.
There are understandably worries about Zach Edey's long-term health. But when judging his most recent sample size of games this past season before, and even the end of his rookie season, it is undeniable how much of a winning impact he is capable of making. Whether it's his dominance on the glass or his rim protection, the team is significantly better with Zach Edey on the floor.
This was probably the most exciting update for the Grizzlies for what is a relatively injury-free team heading into camp. It won't be long before we get to see Zach Edey return to being a high-level defensive anchor while likely still having another offensive leap in him.
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