The Grizzlies' season-opening victory over the New Orleans Pelicans showed positive signs for a team missing five rotational-type players, especially in the second half. However, one stat that stood out was their losing the rebounding battle to a team that many don't consider a good rebounding team.
Grizzlies starting center Zach Edey underwent offseason surgery to address laxity in his left ankle, and his return timeline reached the two-to-five week mark on October 24th. Top reserve big man Brandon Clarke underwent surgery to address knee synovitis on September 29th, and his timeline to be reevaluated will be around the week of November 10th.
Without their two best rebounders, the Grizzlies reached rock bottom in their disastrous performance against the Miami Heat in their second game. After being outrebounded by a combined 104-78 in their opening two games, the team's biggest need is clear as they approach their timeline to apply for a hardship exception.
The Grizzlies need to sign a big man with their hardship exception
Due to NBA rules, Memphis has until it has played three regular-season games before it can apply for the hardship exception. With their third game occurring on a back-to-back against the Indiana Pacers on October 25th, they will be able to apply for the exception ahead of their first road game against the Warriors on October 27th.
Ty Jerome's one-month injury timeline for his calf injury triggered the Grizzlies' ability to apply for the exception, and while the team could stand to add an additional playmaker in the backcourt, their need for an additional big man is glaring. Their current primary frontcourt rotation of Jaren Jackson Jr., Jock Landale, and Santi Aldama is struggling as a unit to compete on the boards and protect the rim on the defensive end.
Along with the rebounding discrepancy, the Grizzlies have surrendered 138 combined points in the paint to their first two opponents. The Pelicans and Heat have star players in Zion Williamson and Bam Adebayo, respectively, whose games were positioned to take advantage of that weakness. Their next opponent, the Pacers, has Pascal Siakam to provide that same level of pressure on Memphis' frontcourt.
There is a chance that Zach Edey could return in two weeks, but eight games will have passed by that point, so utilizing the hardship exception to sign a big man to a 10-day contract is a must for Memphis to help their current bigs now. Precious Achiuwa and Charles Bassey are the names most mentioned by the Grizzlies media and fanbase to sign with the team, and hopefully, news of it comes as soon as they can announce it.