Zach Edey plays 21 minutes in Wednesday’s season opener

The Grizzlies have a new frontcourt, with Boozer, the third overall pick in last summer’s draft, and Edey, returning from a season-ending ankle injury. They’ll play prominent roles in the Grizzlies’ lineup as the franchise rebuilds after trading Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant. Jerome and Coward also offer high fantasy upside with their starting roles.

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.

Stewart’s preseason debut with the Grizzlies lasted just two minutes when he sprained his left ankle in Monday’s game against the Pistons. He has since been diagnosed with a moderate sprain and will be re-evaluated in two weeks. Based on the timeline, Stewart will miss the regular-season opener on October 21, but could return shortly after. His absence won’t significantly affect fantasy basketball, especially since Zach Edey is healthy.

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.

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.

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.

The team announced that the surgery on his left ankle was successful, and he’s expected to make a full recovery ahead of next season. Edey was incredibly effective when he was on the floor, and he is considered an important part of the Grizzlies’ future. Hopefully he’ll be healthier next season after logging just 11 games this year. He played 66 games as a rookie, so there is reason for optimism entering next season.

Edey is having surgery to resolve ongoing discomfort and talar bone stress in his left ankle. The 23-year-old previously had ankle surgery last June to address the lateral joint. Edey is expected to make a full recovery, according to the Grizzlies, though he’s currently without a timetable for return. Santi Aldama should be rostered in most formats with Edey out for the foreseeable future. It would be surprising if Edey played again this year. He will likely finish the season with just 11 starts, but a .656 field-goal percentage and a bushel of blocks and rebounds. He does have some real upside (if he can stay healthy) in the 2026-27 fantasy season, especially if the Grizzlies move off Ja Morant and have to use Edey as an offensive focal point.

Back in the Grizzlies’ lineup after a two-game absence, Aldama played 27 minutes on Monday. The production was solid, and he’s now reached double figures in four of his last five appearances. Jock Landale (personal) being away from the team could have raised Aldama’s fantasy ceiling, but the playing time did not receive a significant boost. That said, he should be rostered in standard leagues as long as the Grizzlies are without starting center Zach Edey (ankle).

Since scoring a career-high 37 points in a December 23 win over the Jazz, Aldama had not recorded more than 15 points in any game. That changed on Thursday in Berlin, as the Grizzlies forward/center hit all four of his three-point attempts. Zach Edey’s (ankle) absence has opened up additional opportunities for Aldama. Still, the impact has been muted since Jock Landale (6/5/1/1/1 with one three-pointer) has been the replacement in the starting lineup.