The Memphis Grizzlies have received overwhelmingly positive health updates as they prepare to open training camp, with star center Zach Edey cleared for full activity. General manager Zach Kleiman provided a detailed rundown of the roster's status.
Zach Edey is fully recovered and ready for the start of camp. The 7-foot-4 center is the focal point of Memphis's plans this season, and his health is most important. Kleiman confirmed Edey has been cleared for "full speed, full court activity" for some time and is responding well.
"I've never spent this much time, just on everything, like making sure my whole body's right," Edey said. "On the good days, I feel more athletic than I did last year already." The team will manage his preseason minutes carefully, but his availability for the start of competitive action is a massive boost.
Micah Peavy is the lone player currently out. Kleiman said Peavy turned his ankle recently and will need some time before returning to the court. Acquired from the New Orleans Pelicans in a September trade, Peavy is competing for a roster spot, and this setback complicates his bid to make the final team.
Conversely, Scotty Pippen Jr. and Jaylen Wells have been given the all-clear. Both players ended last season with toe surgeries but are now "full go," according to Kleiman. Wells is expected to be a starter or key reserve, while Pippen is slated to be the primary backup point guard.
After a brutal stretch where health derailed multiple seasons, a clean bill of health is major. A healthy Edey anchors both the offense and defense, while a full season from Pippen and Wells adds critical depth and scoring.
Pippen believes his absence last season has made people forget his potential. "I think it's a lot of motivation, it's because I wasn't able to play last year and I wasn't able to play the best of my ability," he said. His return stabilizes the backcourt rotation.
Training camp opens in Nashville on Tuesday, September 29. The team's first preseason test is on Monday, October 5, against the Atlanta Hawks. With the roster largely healthy, the focus shifts to building chemistry and implementing systems. Fans can track the team's progress and upcoming schedule on our schedule page. The goal is to translate this clean slate into a much-improved performance, moving past the injury woes that defined the last three years.
