Analysis of the implications of Zach Edey’s offseason surgery for the Grizzlies

It’s been two years since the Grizzlies strutted their way into the playoffs as the No. 2 seed in the West. “I’m fine in the West,” Ja Morant said.

That quote doesn’t hold up well over time, but the team was really on the rise.
As time has gone on, there has been nothing but trouble: Morant’s ban, injuries, and a superstar career that has gone more down than up. Now, Zach Edey had surgery during the off-season, which could mean that the team will have another poor season.

The Purdue-born 7-foot-4 rookie made waves in his first NBA season because he showed he could make a real difference on the court. With Edey on the court, the Grizzlies got strength, rebounding, and rim protection, which was something they really needed. Edey was a throwback with modern promise in a league that values switchable wings and speed more and more. But now that he’s had the surgery to stabilize his ankle, he’ll be ready to start the 2025–26 season. Memphis can’t handle that blow.

Memphis is already very thin in the frontcourt, so losing Edey early isn’t just a minor depth problem.

It could change how they play.
Steven Adams has been gone for a long time, and Jaren Jackson Jr. is a great defender but not a true five-man and gets into a lot of foul trouble when he has to play center for long periods of time.

He might not even be there for much longer because of his contract.

That means more pressure on backup bigs who haven’t proved they can anchor lineups. Without Edey as a rim deterrent or effective rebounder, the Grizzlies could find themselves giving up a ton of second-chance points.

Offensively, Edey was never going to light it up, but his size created spacing simply by his existence. Guards had an easier time navigating pick-and-rolls, and his screens were opening up looks for shooters like Desmond Bane.

Without him, that downhill offense takes a hit. It’s back to relying on finesse, and when you look at the field, that may not bode well for the Grizzlies. The West is stacked.

Of course, no one’s saying Edey is the missing piece to a title run. But when your margin for error is already this slim, every absence matters.

Especially when your franchise player is still trying to get back into rhythm post-injury and post-suspension, and your identity as a team is more unclear than ever.

For Memphis, it’s starting to feel like it’ll never get back to what seemed like the beginning of dominance two seasons ago.
There’s no reason that the Grizzlies shouldn’t be contenders in the West based on their talent. But if this offseason is any indication, it’s the same story with a slightly different headline.