Acquiring Isaiah Stewart for the same second-round picks the Pistons gave the Grizzlies yesterday is simply an enormous win. Stewart is a dream culture fit for the Grizzlies and will help boost the defensive side of the ball. But arguably the biggest winner of this entire trade for the Grizzlies is Zach Edey.
Zach Edey played in just 11 games this season before requiring season-ending surgery to deal with a stress reaction in his left ankle. Edey had surgery the previous summer to stabilize the same ankle. Even though there are valid concerns about durability long-term, Edey had such an enormous impact as a second-year player that he must remain a priority.
Edey averaged 13.6 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.5 stocks (steals and blocks) per game, but the impact went beyond his own stats. Because he missed the start of the season, the Grizzlies started 4-9, as they didn't have the frontcourt depth to overcome his absence. After he returned, the Grizzlies went 7-4 as Edey anchored one of the best defenses in the league during that stretch.
It is not a coincidence that the Grizzlies went back to struggling defensively as a team when Zach Edey went down in December. Now, the Grizzlies have a legitimate answer to deal with the minutes that Edey is off the floor.
Edey has the most to gain from this trade
After selecting Cam Boozer third overall, the Grizzlies have made an emphasis on having one of the most physical frontcourts in the entire NBA. But there was one thing that was still missing until the Isaiah Stewart trade. They did not have a potential option that could be a backup center behind Zach Edey.
Even though 11 games isn't a huge sample size, Zach Edey had shown continuous signs of becoming a dominant player for the Grizzlies. Edey showed improvement in offensive efficiency and was able to stabilize a Grizzlies defense that had struggled without him.
Another factor to consider is that the Grizzlies can also run lineups with Isaiah Stewart and Zach Edey together and have an intimidating duo for rim protection. Even though an Edey and Boozer duo will rightfully generate most of the excitement, a Stewart and Edey duo could end up causing teams significant problems defensively when they run it.
But arguably the most important piece of the trade, Edey having someone like Stewart who can function as a backup center should take significant pressure off of him as he continues to recover from injury. Even though Jock Landale had given them an offensive boost last season, he struggled as a rim protector.
Given how much Iisalo loves to rotate in the regular season, having a player of Isaiah Stewart's caliber could go a long way towards keeping Edey fresh for the Play-In Tournament or even playoffs if they get there. Edey had been durable his whole college career and played 66 games as a rookie. But the acquisition of Isaiah Stewart can go a long way towards easing any injury concerns with Edey.
There are multiple winners from the Isaiah Stewart trade for the Grizzlies, but right now it looks like Zach Edey is the biggest winner of this deal.
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