Zach Edey has been cleared for full-speed, full-court work, and the Grizzlies expect him to be ready for the Oct. 21 regular-season opener.
Zach Edey is cleared for full-speed, full-court activity, and the Memphis Grizzlies expect the third-year center to be ready for the start of the regular season, general manager Zach Kleiman said Monday at the team's media day.
Edey has not played since Dec. 7, when Memphis beat the Portland Trail Blazers. The team announced in March that he would have surgery to address ongoing discomfort and bone stress in his left ankle, his second operation on that ankle in less than a year. The first came in June 2025 to address laxity in the joint. He also had a procedure on his left elbow.
Edey Cleared for Full-Speed, Full-Court Work
Edey has been working at full speed for a stretch already, and the ankle has responded well.
"Glad to report that big fella, he's doing well," Kleiman said. "He's doing well. He's exactly where we hoped he would be at this point in time, which is he's currently cleared for full speed, full court activity. He's been there for a little bit at this point and responding well so far. Continue to anticipate he'll be ready beginning of the season."
Injuries limited Edey to 11 games last season. He averaged 13.6 points and 11.1 rebounds in those appearances.
As a rookie in 2024-25, the No. 9 overall pick averaged 9.2 points and 8.3 rebounds across 66 games and made the All-Rookie First Team.
Grizzlies Could Limit Edey During Preseason
Memphis opens a four-game preseason schedule Oct. 5 at Atlanta, hosts Orlando on Oct. 7, and visits Chicago on Oct. 9. A week separates that game from the exhibition finale against Charlotte on Oct. 16 at FedExForum.
Kleiman said a more conservative plan for Edey in those games should not be read as a setback.
"We'll be smart," Kleiman explained. "We'll be smart with him as we get through this week of [training camp] and then get into preseason. He's not ruled out for preseason. Possible he gets some, call it, limited-minute reps in preseason. Not saying he will, not saying he won't. We'll see how he does this week and take stock.
"But I wouldn't react overly to that if we decide to be a little more conservative there," Kleiman continued. "But we'll be smart. We'll take it a day at a time. But he's doing well and where he should be as of today."
Scotty Pippen Jr., Jaylen Wells Cleared for Camp
Two players who finished last season on the sideline are back at full participation. In March, Scotty Pippen Jr. had a sesamoidectomy to address discomfort in his right big toe. Jaylen Wells had a procedure to stabilize his right great toe. Both procedures ended their seasons.
Wells started all 69 of his appearances in 2025-26.
Micah Peavy, acquired from the New Orleans Pelicans earlier this month, turned his ankle before camp. Kleiman said Peavy will need more time while Pippen and Wells are ready to participate.
"I did touch on Zach," Kleiman said. "Scotty and Jaylen, they had their things at the end of last season, full go, they're totally fine. The only notable update, Micah Peavy turned his ankle, unfortunately, where it's still going to be a little time until we can get a look at Micah. But other than that, expecting a very full level of participation for this camp."
Peavy was the 40th pick in the 2025 draft. He played college basketball at Texas Tech, TCU, and Georgetown.
Richie Saunders Continues ACL Recovery
Richie Saunders is further away. The No. 32 pick in June's draft tore his ACL in February against Colorado, cutting short his senior season at BYU. In 25 games before the injury, Saunders averaged 18.0 points and 5.8 rebounds.
He is progressing in
