Zach Edey Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Grizzlies Notes: Aldama, Morant, Clarke, Spencer, Edey

December 17th, 2025 at 1:25pm CST by Luke Adams

Speaking to Mark Medina of EssentiallySports, Grizzlies forward Santi Aldama discussed a wide range of topics, including his impressions of head coach Tuomas Iisalo, his reaction to the disagreement earlier in the season between teammate Ja Morant and the coaching staff, and his perspective on a recent dust-up with Draymond Green.

Aldama also admitted that when he signed a new three-year contract with the Grizzlies over the summer, he didn’t expect to be playing center as much as he’s had to this fall, with big men Zach Edey and Brandon Clarke both missing extensive time due to injuries.

“It’s not easy,” Aldama said. “… But the group needed me to do it. It’s been hard to adjust at times. But it’s also been seamless because of the work we’ve put in and I’ve been with Jaren (Jackson Jr.) my whole life. I’ve played the four, and he’s played the five. Now we’ve kind of switched it up. But it’s about having honest conversations and seeing where I can help the group at all times. With being one of the most veteran guys on the team and having been here as one of the longest, it’s important for me to be that voice and constant amid the chaos.”

Aldama went on to speak specifically about some of the adjustments he’s had to make in that new role, crediting Morant for helping him adapt.

“The challenge is mainly with the way we run the floor,” Aldama said. “I’m used to getting behind and starting in transition for us. But as a five, you’re more in the middle of the court and trying to set some screens and find maybe a pop, a roll or a cut to get the corners open. As a four, you’re more playing off closeouts.

“Where my advantage lies on offense has been different. But I’ve been talking with guys that play that position. I’ve been talking to Ja. He’s been great for us there. Obviously, my advantage is different than his. But he understands the spacing.”

Here’s more on the Grizzlies:

After initially being listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game vs. Minnesota, Morant has been downgraded to doubtful due to his left ankle sprain, according to the team (Twitter link). The star point guard sustained the injury on Monday in his second game back from a calf strain.
Clarke, who has yet to play this season while he recovers from right knee surgery, has been listed as questionable to make his season debut on Wednesday, per the Grizzlies (Twitter link). Injuries have limited the 29-year-old to just 70 total appearances since the start of the 2023/24 season, but he has been an effective role player in Memphis’ frontcourt when healthy.
Like his brother Pat Spencer of the Warriors, Grizzlies guard Cam Spencer will miss his team’s next game for personal reasons, having been ruled out on Wednesday, according to the injury report. Cam has played a key role for Memphis of late, averaging 16.9 points and 5.2 assists per game with an incredible 63.6% three-point percentage in his past 10 outings.
Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal spoke to a pair of doctors about Edey’s ankle injury, which will sideline him into the new year. As Cole writes, Edey’s offseason ankle surgery addressed ligaments and soft tissue, whereas his recent stress reaction affects the bone in that ankle, so it’s not an aggravation of the same injury, though there’s presumably a connection. “It’s most likely related to the rehab, where he may have ramped up too quick,” orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon Kenneth Jung said. “Basically, the stress in the bone means the load up on the bone is quicker than the bone can keep up with.” Neither specialist who talked to Cole anticipates that the injury will be a long-term problem for Edey. “I would become more concerned if it’s recurrent, or the bone just doesn’t respond and he needs more time ramping up,” Jung said. “If he recovers and gets back to play, then I don’t think it’s an issue.”

Injury Notes: Young, Eason, Clarke, Edey, Booker

December 13th, 2025 at 3:10pm CST by Rory Maher

All-Star point guard Trae Young continues to ramp up his reconditioning activities and is expected to return to practice next week, the Hawks announced today in a press release (Twitter link).

Young injured his right knee in a collision with teammate Mouhamed Gueye in the first quarter of an October 29 game at Brooklyn. He was ruled out for the rest of that game and was diagnosed with a sprained MCL a few days later after undergoing an MRI, which revealed no additional damage.

Young has missed the past 21 games with the injury. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported last week that Young was optimistic about returning to action this month.

Atlanta is currently 14-12, the No. 9 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Here are a few more injury updates from around the NBA:

Rockets forward Tari Eason, who has been out since November 14 due to a strained oblique, could return to action in a couple days. Head coach Ime Udoka said Eason practiced on Saturday and the team is “hoping” the 24-year-old will be available for Monday’s game at Denver, tweets Rockets sideline reporter Vanessa Richardson. Udoka clarified that Eason’s return will depend on if he experiences soreness after practice.
Grizzlies big man Brandon Clarke was assigned to the G League’s Memphis Hustle to practice on Friday prior to being recalled, the team announced (via Twitter). Clarke underwent an arthroscopic procedure in September to address synovitis in his right knee after having his 2024/25 season cut short due to a PCL sprain in that same knee. He’s expected to be out at least a couple more weeks, but obviously practicing is a positive development — the 29-year-old Canadian hasn’t suited up for a game since March 19.
Second-year Grizzlies center Zach Edey missed the first 13 games of the season as he recovered from offseason surgery on his left ankle. He will be out at least four weeks after being diagnosed with a stress reaction in the same ankle. Head coach Tuomas Iisalo discussed Edey’s situation prior to Friday’s loss to Utah, per Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal (video link). “He’s been a huge part of what we’ve been doing … it’s a big loss, ” Iisalo said. “But at the same time, it’s for the long-term benefit of everybody involved.”
Suns star Devin Booker did “everything” during Friday’s practice and was also a full participant in Saturday’s practice, according to Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic (Twitter video links). “Responding well,” head coach Jordan Ott said of Booker. “That’s encouraging. No issues. Practiced today. Just see exactly how it responds.” The four-time All-Star guard, who has missed the past three games with a right groin strain, could return Sunday vs. the Lakers.

Zach Edey To Miss At Least Four Weeks With Ankle Injury

December 11th, 2025 at 3:17pm CST by Luke Adams

Grizzlies center Zach Edey will be reevaluated in four weeks after being diagnosed with a stress reaction in his left ankle, the team announced today (via Twitter). According to the Grizzlies, the expectation is that Edey will make a full recovery “following a period of offloading and rehabilitation.”

“This is a management plan to optimize Zach’s long-term health in consultation with the Grizzlies and medical experts,” Edey’s agent Mark Bartelstein tells ESPN’s Shams Charania (Twitter links). “Following this step, the short- and long-term prognosis for Zach is excellent.”

It’s a disappointing turn of events for the Grizzlies, who went 4-9 without Edey to open the season as he advanced through the final stages of his recovery from offseason surgery on his left ankle. Memphis has won seven of 11 games since Edey’s return and he has been the team’s most valuable player during that stretch.

Across 11 outings, Edey has averaged 13.6 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks in 25.8 minutes per game. More notable than those stats are his on/off-court numbers — the Grizzlies have outscored opponents by 18.3 points per 100 possessions and have a defensive rating of 94.5 during Edey’s 284 minutes on the court.

Jock Landale will likely return to the starting lineup during Edey’s absence, with power forward Jaren Jackson Jr. spending more time at center.

The Grizzlies also announced a couple more injury updates on Thursday, indicating that swingman John Konchar has a UCL tear in his left thumb and will undergo a procedure to repair that tear. The team isn’t providing a recovery timeline for Konchar until after the surgery, but that sort of injury typically sidelines a player for at least a month.

Meanwhile, rookie guard Javon Small is making good progress from the turf toe injury on his left foot, per the Grizzlies, but his return is still a little ways off. Small is expected to be back in action in about three-to-five weeks, according to the team.

While the Grizzlies’ press release didn’t mention Ja Morant, the club’s starting point guard appears to be on the verge of returning from the right calf strain that has kept him on the shelf since November 15. According to Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal, head coach Tuomas Iisalo said Morant went through a full practice on Thursday and a decision will be made about his availability for Friday’s game vs. Utah after the team sees how his body responds to today’s work.

Southwest Notes: Edey, Morant, Wembanyama, Castle, Zion

December 2nd, 2025 at 7:20pm CST by Rory Maher

Second-year center Zach Edey has helped change the trajectory of the Grizzlies‘ season after returning to action in mid-November, writes Michael Wallace of Grind City Media. After a 4-11 start, Memphis has won five of its past six games, largely due to the two-way play of the former Purdue star.

“(Edey’s impact has meant) everything,” head coach Tuomas Iisalo said. “Great job overall by him and the whole team for realizing that’s where the advantage is.”

The 7’3″ big man from Toronto had the best game of his NBA career on Sunday in Sacramento, dominating the Kings en route to 32 points, 17 rebounds and five blocks in just 29 minutes. He shot 16-of-20 (80%) from the field and Memphis was plus-25 with the 23-year-old on the court in the eight-point win.

“I’ve just been really comfortable this year,” Edey said of a stretch that made him a finalist for NBA Western Conference Player of the Week honors. “I’ve been settling in, feeling like I’m back at Purdue a little bit – just comfortable. It feels like everybody’s been playing good basketball, executing the game plan and the vision. And that’s what we’ve been working for.”

Over the past three games — all victories — Edey has averaged 19.3 PPG, 17.0 RPG and 3.3 BPG while shooting 71.8% from the field in 32.0 MPG.

Here’s more from around the Southwest:

While it’s too early to say how meaningful it is, Ja Morant was visibly engaged with and encouraging his teammates and coaches during the Grizzlies‘ win on Sunday, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic. As Amick observes, Morant has been the subject of trade chatter this fall amid a very poor start, disinterested body language, and a one-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team. Memphis will continue to receive buy-low trade calls on Morant, Amick writes, with the Kings and Timberwolves among the clubs monitoring the situation. But for now, the injured point guard seems to be pleased with the team’s turnaround. “It’s a huge advantage for us,” Iisalo said of Morant’s engagement on the sidelines. “It’s during the games. He’s … asking stuff of me and giving some tips there for the guys. Overall, really good communication, really good leadership, both from him and also from Jaren (Jackson Jr.) and our veteran guys.”
Injured Spurs Victor Wembanyama (left calf strain) and Stephon Castle (left hip flexor strain) are out again on Tuesday vs. Memphis, but they are making progress and have begun on-court work, relays Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News (via Twitter). According to Mike Finger of the Express-News (Twitter link), neither player will travel to Orlando for Wednesday’s back-to-back, and while there’s a chance they could eventually join the four-game road trip that runs through next Wednesday, that doesn’t necessarily either of the past two Rookie of the Year winners will play during that stretch.
Two days before it was reported that he would miss extended time with a strained adductor, Pelicans star Zion Williamson expressed confidence that he had turned the corner on his injury woes, per Athlon Sports contributor Mark Medina. “I haven’t felt like this since college, high school,” Williamson said Sunday. “I walk in the gym, and I feel good.” While interim head coach James Borrego praised Williamson in other ways, he said at the time he’d like to see the former Duke forward improve as a leader, Medina adds. “That’s one area of growth for him that he and I consistently talk about: it’s how to lead,” Borrego said. “He’s obviously a talent. But the more he can lean into leadership and grow into his teammates, that’s where he wants to go. I just see a curious individual, trying to get better in all aspects of his game.”

Luka Doncic, Jalen Brunson Named Players Of Week

December 1st, 2025 at 2:50pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Lakers guard Luka Doncic and Knicks guard Jalen Brunson have been named the Western and Eastern Conference Players of the Week, respectively, according to the NBA (Twitter links).

Doncic led the Lakers to three wins during the week of November 24-30 while averaging 37.3 points, 10.3 assists and 8.7 rebounds per contest. Those performances, which included a 43-point outburst against the Clippers, increased his league-leading scoring average to 35.1 points per game.

Brunson lifted the Knicks to four wins by averaging 28.8 points and 4.5 assists per game while knocking down 40.7 percent of his three-point attempts. He matched his season high on Friday by racking up 37 points against Milwaukee.

Doncic and Brunson, of course, were backcourt partners in Dallas. Brunson has earned Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors seven times since joining the Knicks, while this is the first time Doncic has achieved the feat since becoming a Laker.

The other nominees in the West were Zach Edey (Grizzlies), Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder), Jamal Murray (Nuggets) and Austin Reaves (Lakers).

Desmond Bane (Magic), Jaylen Brown (Celtics), Tyler Herro (Heat), Jalen Johnson (Hawks) and Pascal Siakam (Pacers) were also nominated in the East.

Southwest Notes: Sheppard, Edey, Coward, Pelicans

November 25th, 2025 at 1:37pm CST by Luke Adams

Rockets guard Reed Sheppard made just 2-of-9 shots from the floor in his first start of the season on Monday in Phoenix, but he contributed five assists and three steals in his 27 minutes, and Houston was a +6 when he was on the court. It marked the eighth consecutive game in which the Rockets outscored their opponent during Sheppard’s minutes.

While the 21-year-old still has plenty of room to grow, Sheppard has taken a significant step forward so far this season, with his averages – 13.1 PPG and 3.2 APG on .490/.471/.706 shooting – up across the board. As William Guillory of The Athletic writes, Houston’s odds of competing for a title are only increasing as a result of the second-year guard’s improvement.

“The real thing is the opportunity he’s getting, and he’s taking advantage of it,” head coach Ime Udoka said of Sheppard last week. “You’re going to get more of a rhythm with the more minutes and opportunities you get. We needed him to take that step this year, regardless of Fred (VanVleet) being out. He’s really been great. We want him to continue to be confident.”

Sheppard, who started in place of Kevin Durant on Monday, could have another opportunity to be part of the starting five on Wednesday in Golden State, with Durant out for a second straight game for personal reasons.

Here’s more from out of the Southwest:

After missing the first 13 games of the Grizzlies‘ season as he recovered from offseason ankle surgery, center Zach Edey exited his fifth game back early on Monday due to a head injury. If Edey is forced to miss time, it would be a major blow to Memphis, says Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal, given that the club has a +16.5 net rating in Edey’s minutes and a -8.0 mark when he doesn’t play. “Zach is a huge part of what we do, both offensively and defensively,” teammate Cedric Coward said after Monday’s loss to Denver. “Just his presence alone is so meaningful to the team. You guys understand, when he came back, how much better our team got defensively, on the rebounding end, even the offensive end. His roles are gravitating guys inside, so we’re getting easier shots on the outside. It was a huge loss.”
Coward has been one of the NBA’s most productive rookies this fall and is making the Grizzlies look good for trading up to No. 11 in June to draft him, as a Western Conference scout tells Grant Afseth of RG.org. “He only played six Division I games after the partially torn rotator cuff, and that made him one of the biggest unknowns in the draft,” the scout said of Coward. “A lot of scouts weren’t sure how his game would translate against top talent because he’d spent most of his college career at Willamette and Eastern Washington. But Memphis clearly saw something real. … And now he’s outperforming even the optimistic projections. He looks completely comfortable at this level.”
The Pelicans‘ past two games provided a reminder of Zion Williamson‘s impact. After scoring just 98 points on Saturday as Williamson sat out the second game of a back-to-back, New Orleans poured in 143 points on Monday vs. Chicago with Williamson back on the court. While the star forward led the way with 29 points, Monday’s performance was a team effort, with eight players scoring in double figures, writes Les East of NOLA.com. “You couldn’t ask for a better team win when you look at the stat sheet,” said interim head coach James Borrego, who registered his first win since taking over for Willie Green.
Outside of the Hornets, who drafted four players in the top 34 in June, no team has gotten more minutes from its rookies so far this season than the Pelicans, according to Jim Eichenhofer of Pelicans.com. That trend figures to continue going forward, Eichenhofer posits, since Jeremiah Fears, Derik Queen, and Micah Peavy are all part of the rotation now and should see regular playing time with several New Orleans veterans sidelined due to injuries.

Southwest Notes: KD, Sengun, Bey, Zion, Mavs, Morant, Edey, Coward

November 18th, 2025 at 9:05am CST by Luke Adams

When Fred VanVleet tore his ACL prior to training camp, it raised questions about how the Rockets would function without a veteran point guard on the court to organize the offense. However, VanVleet’s absence hasn’t slowed down Houston’s attack at all through the season’s first four weeks — Houston ranks first in the NBA with an offensive rating of 123.4.

As William Guillory of The Athletic writes, the offseason addition of forward Kevin Durant, the ongoing improvement of center Alperen Sengun, and the chemistry quickly formed between that duo have been major factors in the Rockets’ success so far. Durant recently told Guillory that he has never played with a big man who can “dominate in the post” the way that Sengun does. Sengun, meanwhile, said he has “never played with so much space in my life” thanks to the defensive attention that Durant commands.

While Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard have handled their increased on-ball responsibilities admirably in the wake of VanVleet’s injury, the Rockets are frequently running their offense through Sengun, who is operating as something of a “point center,” Guillory writes. The big man is leading the team with 7.4 assists per game, as he and Durant look to take advantage of defenses keying on them by getting their teammates involved — the rest of the Rockets are shooting 48.8% from the floor so far this season.

“We know teams are going to go after Kevin quite a bit. Alpi in the pocket is a great decision-maker and scorer. We invite the double-teams and let Alpi play with the numbers behind it,” head coach Ime Udoka said. “It’s a good thing for us. Alpi gets doubled in the post; KD gets doubled on the perimeter. It opens up shots for everyone else. The chemistry between those guys is really growing.”

We have more from around the Southwest:

Pelicans forward Saddiq Bey missed a game for the first time this season on Monday, having been ruled out of the second end of a back-to-back set due to a sprained left ankle (Twitter link). He was originally listed as questionable, as was forward Zion Williamson, who ultimately sat for an eight straight game. Those initial injury designations suggest that Williamson is close to returning and that Bey shouldn’t be out long.
Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd, who has been without multiple rotation players in every game this season, expressed some frustration on Monday over the team’s ongoing injury issues, per Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News (Twitter link). “Our health is a big problem,” Kidd said. “We have guys out for one game and then they’re in and on minute restrictions. There’s no continuity. There won’t be any continuity. We’re trying to piece this thing together, and give those guys in that locker room credit. They’re fighting, and it’s just what it is right now until we can get healthy.”
While rival teams are wondering whether the struggling Grizzlies might consider blowing up their roster, the messaging out of Memphis is that the team has no interest in taking that route and remains committed to building around Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., writes Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link). Even if the Grizzlies change their minds and make Morant available, Fischer doesn’t view the Timberwolves as a logical trade partner, given Minnesota’s lack of draft assets and the fact that the Wolves would have to give up at least one valuable starter for salary-matching purposes.
Center Zach Edey, who recently returned from ankle surgery, and forward Cedric Coward, who has been dealing with some foot soreness, were both on minutes restrictions on Saturday, according to Grizzlies head coach Tuomas Iisalo. Both players logged about 25 minutes. “It’s a challenging situation, because both guys have done a great job for us, we like to play them a lot and both are starting for us,” Iisalo said, per Michael Wallace of Grind City Media. “But at the same time, we have to be smart because their future is also very important for us. So, we’re making sure we make good decisions right here, especially with those two guys.”

Southwest Notes: Morant, Edey, Finney-Smith, Davis

November 15th, 2025 at 8:01pm CST by Arthur Hill

Grizzlies guard Ja Morant left Saturday’s game in Cleveland midway through the first quarter due to soreness in his right calf, according to Joe Vardon of The Athletic. Returning to the court after missing Wednesday’s contest at Boston due to an ankle injury, Morant was only able to play six minutes against the Cavs, finishing with seven points and two assists. Vardon states that he was jogging gingerly on Memphis’ final possession before being removed.

Coach Tuomas Iisalo told reporters after the game that he’s not sure which play caused Morant’s injury, relays Michael Wallace of Grizzlies.com (Twitter link). Morant is expected to undergo further testing, and likely an MRI, when the team gets back to Memphis.

Vince Williams Jr., who took over lead guard duties when Morant exited, turned his ankle late in the first half, per Chris Herrington of The Daily Memphian (Twitter link), but he was able to return. The Grizzlies are low on point guards with Ty Jerome yet to make his season debut due to a right calf strain and Scotty Pippen Jr. recovering from toe surgery.

There’s more from the Southwest Division:

Zach Edey played nearly 25 minutes in his first game of the season and finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and two blocks. The Grizzlies center is happy that the long recovery process following ankle surgery in June is finally over (Twitter video link from Grind City Media). “It felt good. I’ve been waiting all season,” Edey said. “My legs felt better than I expected. My wind, I didn’t really catch it until like the third quarter. I felt good out there.” Iisalo was happy with the performance of his new starting lineup featuring Edey and rookie forward Cedric Coward (Twitter video link). “Overall I like that lineup,” he said. “It gives us a lot of length, a lot of defense, a lot of physicality. Even though we lost today, I thought overall there were a lot of positives.”
The Rockets‘ depth took a hit with Tari Eason sidelined four-to-six weeks with an oblique strain, and it doesn’t appear that Dorian Finney-Smith will be able to help any time soon, writes Danielle Lerner of The Houston Chronicle. The free agent addition is still recovering from offseason surgery on his left ankle and hasn’t been cleared for contact drills.
The Mavericks are listing Anthony Davis as doubtful for Sunday’s meeting with Portland, tweets Marc Stein of The Stein Line, who points out that Davis has been considered questionable for the past few games. Davis has missed the last eight games with a left calf strain, and Stein notes (via Twitter) that he’s already been surpassed in career minutes as a Maverick by rookie forward Cooper Flagg.

Zach Edey Returns For Grizzlies; Cedric Coward Moves Into Starting Lineup

November 15th, 2025 at 5:02pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Grizzlies unveiled a new-look lineup for Saturday’s game in Cleveland, with Zach Edey making his season debut and rookie Cedric Coward joining him as a starter.

Edey missed the first 13 games of the season as he recovered from offseason surgery on his left ankle. The 7’4″ center took over the starting job as a rookie, averaging 9.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 66 games while shooting 58% from the field. He finished fifth in the Rookie of the Year voting.

Coward is off to a strong start after being selected with the 11th pick in this year’s draft, putting up 14.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists through 13 games while playing 26.8 minutes per night. He was listed as doubtful earlier today due to soreness in his right foot, but he was later upgraded to questionable and then given clearance to play.

The lineup changes mean Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Jock Landale are coming off the bench after beginning the season as starters.

For Caldwell-Pope, who was acquired from Orlando this summer as part of the Desmond Bane trade, it’s his first game as a reserve since he was with the Lakers during the 2019/2020 season, notes Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal (Twitter link). The 32-year-old shooting guard has gotten off to a rough start, averaging 8.1 PPG while shooting career lows from the field (35.1%) and three-point range (29.8%).

Caldwell-Pope has been experiencing elbow soreness, which was aggravated during Wednesday’s game, but he’s able to play today, according to Michael Wallace of Grizzlies.com (Twitter link).

Landale is a career backup who was signed as a free agent this summer to provide depth at center and handle the starting duties until Edey was healthy. He has taken advantage of the opportunity by averaging career highs of 10.7 points and 5.5 rebounds through 13 games while shooting 56.8% from the floor and 48.5% from long distance.

Edey’s return is welcome news for the Grizzlies, who are off to a 4-9 start that included an early-season blowup between head coach Tuomas Iisalo and star guard Ja Morant. Memphis has lost three straight games, including a 131-95 embarrassment Wednesday night in Boston.

The Grizzlies are still short-handed, as Brandon Clarke and Scotty Pippen Jr. are recovering from surgery, Ty Jerome has a right calf strain, Olivier-Maxence Prosper has a left quad contusion and Javon Small will miss multiple weeks with turf toe.

Injury Notes: Edey, Coward, Poole, Dort, Eason, Oubre

November 14th, 2025 at 9:30pm CST by Rory Maher

Second-year center Zach Edey could make his season debut on Saturday. He has been listed as questionable for the matchup in Cleveland, the Grizzlies announced (via Twitter).

As Michael Wallace of Grind City Media writes, the Grizzlies are reeling, with seven losses in their past eight games and a 4-9 record on the season. The team is looking forward to having the former Purdue star back in the middle.

“He brings a lot,” head coach Tuomas Iisalo said of Edey. “He’s a tremendous finisher around the rim, and he also has a gravitational pull that forces defenders to have to help.”

Edey has been steadily ramping up his activity after undergoing ankle surgery in June, which prevented him from participating in training camp and the preseason. Iisalo cautioned that there will be an adjustment period for the 7’4″ big man once he returns, Wallace adds.

“He’s a tremendous rebounder on both ends, which is a huge benefit,” Iisalo assessed. “He’s a high-level rim protector, and having both him and Jaren (Jackson Jr.) as our twin towers out there worked really well for us last year. He’s also a second-year player who had an operation five months ago. So, it will be a gradual process to bring him along and we just have to stay true to our process.”

After missing Wednesday’s game in Boston due to a right ankle injury, point guard Ja Morant will be active on Saturday, but standout rookie wing Cedric Coward is doubtful to suit up due to right foot soreness, per the team.

Here are a few more injury notes from around the NBA:

While Pelicans guard Jordan Poole is making “good progress” in his recovery from a mild left quad strain, he’ll miss at least one more week, which is the next time he’ll be reexamined, the team today announced in a press release (Twitter link). Poole is in his first season with New Orleans, having been acquired in an offseason trade with Washington.
Thunder wing Luguentz Dort, who has missed the past five games with a right upper trap strain, has been upgraded to questionable for Saturday’s game at Charlotte, tweets Justin Martinez of The Oklahoman. The 26-year-old forward could hit free agency next summer, depending on what the Thunder do with Dort’s $18.2MM team option for 2026/27. The Montreal native was named to the All-Defensive First Team in 2024/25.
Impending restricted free agent Tari Eason suffered a right hip contusion in Friday’s matchup against Portland and was ruled out for the remainder of the contest, according to the Rockets (Twitter link via Danielle Lerner of The Houston Chronicle). Eason, a 24-year-old forward, entered Friday’s game averaging 12.3 points and 5.3 rebounds on .517/.531/.714 shooting (24.5 minutes per contest).
Sixers forward Kelly Oubre Jr., who will be an unrestricted free agent next offseason, exited Friday’s loss in Detroit with a hyperextended left knee and did not return, as Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer relays (via Twitter). After a 4-0 start, the 76ers have cooled off of late, dropping five of their past eight games.