Isaiah Stewart (ankle) out at least two weeks

Edey made his preseason debut earlier this week after returning from offseason ankle surgery. The 24-year-old big man from Purdue played well in 16 minutes. He had 10 points, five rebounds, two steals and a block. Healthy again, Edey is a solid pick in the middle of the fifth-round of fantasy drafts this year.

Edey made his preseason debut in this one and managed to pile up four rebounds in a statsheet-stuffing performance that lasted just 10 minutes. The 24-year-old center is one of the more challenging big men to forecast for fantasy purposes because he’s shown some flashes of immense all-around potential as an impact interior defender with significant offensive upside. He was limited to just 11 games last year due to lingering left ankle issues that ultimately required season-ending surgery. It’s unrealistic to count on Edey from a volume standpoint, but even a moderately healthy campaign would make him easily worthy of an early-round pick as a top-60 range selection in fantasy drafts this fall.

Stewart, acquired from the Pistons in late June, played just two minutes on Monday before exiting wth a left ankle injury. The forward/center landed awkwardly after attempting to block a shot and did not return. With Zach Edey still out, Quinten Post (eight points, four rebounds and two three-pointers) would have added fantasy value if neither is available when the regular season begins. Post started Monday’s game and logged 12 minutes.

Kleiman said Edey could be ready for the start of the regular season. After having season-ending ankle surgery in March, Edey is right where he needs to be in his rehab, according to Kleiman. It doesn’t sound like the 24-year-old center will miss too much time, making Edey a worthwhile selection in the fifth-round of fantasy drafts.

There were rumors over the past week that Detroit could be open to moving Stewart, but this is clearly a cost-cutting move. Stewart’s departure should open the door for Paul Reed to become the backup center behind Jalen Duren, barring other moves. Stewart should fill out the backup center minutes in Memphis behind Zach Edey. The Grizzlies were the worst rebounding team in the league after the All-Star break last year, but with Edey healthy and Beef Stew in town, the frontcourt should be far more formidable next season.

Boozer is one of the top prospects in the draft class, regardless of position. While he offers a high floor, that may be selling his long-term ceiling short. A consensus All-American, the 6-foot-8 forward averaged 22.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 three-pointers in 33.4 minutes at Duke, shooting 55.6 percent from the field, 39.1 percent from three and 78.9 percent from the foul line. Boozer’s physicality and work ethic make him a good choice for any franchise looking to reset its roster. He should slot in as the starting power forward for Memphis after they traded Jaren Jackson Jr. to Utah at the trade deadline. Boozer should fit in well alongside Zach Edey in the starting unit and become the franchise cornerstone for the Grizzlies.

Stewart, who has two years and $30 million remaining on his current contract, saw his playing time decrease during the postseason due to Detroit’s search for more playmaking alongside Cade Cunningham. To address that issue this summer, Beef Stew could be used to make something happen. And in a separate report, NBA insider Jake Fischer wrote that Stewart is “bracing” for a move elsewhere. In 58 games last season, Stewart averaged 10.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 22.7 minutes. Backing up Jalen Duren has lowered Beef Stew’s fantasy ceiling; a move to a place where he would play more could change that. And if Stewart were to be traded, that would free up additional opportunities for Paul Reed.

An afterthought for most of the first three games of this series, Reed has emerged as a key contributor due to Jalen Duren’s struggles. However, both played well in Game 6, which is why the Pistons will host Game 7 on Sunday. Reed, a double-digit scorer in four straight games, finished with a career-high point total and was a steal shy of a complete stat line. Isaiah Stewart played just four minutes on Friday, and his playing time is likely to be limited on Sunday as well.

Duren is the lone Pistons regular on the injury report for Sunday’s regular-season finale, even though Detroit’s playoff seeding won’t be affected by the outcome. Isaiah Stewart is available, but most of Duren’s minutes may be absorbed by Paul Reed, as Beef Stew only recently returned from a strained calf.

Back in the Pistons’ rotation after a 13-game absence with a strained calf, Stewart played 11 minutes off the bench on Wednesday. He didn’t miss a shot against the Bucks, and while the rebounding production was underwhelming, Beef Stew’s mere presence on the court makes a difference for the Pistons. Paul Reed played 10 minutes, finishing with 10 points, three rebounds, one assist and one blocked shot. Wednesday’s game was one the Pistons won comfortably, which likely impacted Stewart’s minutes. But the focus is on ensuring he’s sharp for the playoffs, which begin on April 18.