When Zach Edey was on the court this season, the Memphis Grizzlies outscored their opponents by 17.7 points per 100 possessions. When Edey is off the court, the Grizzlies are outscored 8.2 per cent, or 25.9 points per 100 with him on the court.
That’s why it’s such bad news in Memphis: Edey will be out at least a month with a stress reaction in his left ankle, the team announced Thursday. This is the same ankle that Edey had offseason surgery on, causing him to miss the first 13 games of the season.
Advertisement
Edey’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, told Shams Charania of ESPN, “This is a management plan to optimize Zach’s long-term health in consultation with the Grizzlies and medical experts. Following this step, the short- and long-term prognosis for Zach is excellent.”
It’s a big blow for a Memphis team that was 7-2 in its last nine games and has started to string together some wins, and is expected to soon have Ja Morant back from the calf strain that sidelined him.
With Edey out, expect Jock Landale to become the starting five for a while, with Jaren Jackson Jr. also spending more time at center.
In the same announcement, the Grizzlies said winger John Konchar would undergo surgery to repair a torn UCL in his left thumb. The team did not provide a timetable for his return, but this injury typically keeps players out for at least a month.
