The Zach Edey conundrum continues: What we learned in preseason

On defense, Edey’s sheer size is his greatest asset. He regularly uses his 7-foot-10 wingspan to snag rebounds, often simply reaching over opponents attempting to box him out. He’s also proving to be a formidable rim protector, averaging 1.3 blocks per contest in the preseason. Beyond the raw numbers, Edey’s presence alone has altered several shots and forced opposing guards and wings to reconsider driving into the paint.

The Bad

Edey’s conditioning has been a noticeable concern in the preseason. Just a few minutes into the game, he frequently lags behind his teammates on both ends of the floor, arriving a beat late to the action. In Ja Morant’s last healthy season (2022-23), Memphis thrived with a fast-paced style, posting the fourth-highest pace in the league (101.1) and capitalizing on quick transition opportunities. With Edey’s sluggishness and tendency to look winded after only a handful of minutes, it’s hard to envision him keeping up with the rest of the players, raising concerns about his fit in the Grizzlies system.

Edey’s reluctance to screen, a habit from his Purdue days, has carried over to the NBA. In the Grizzlies' four preseason games, he has seldom set screens, instead heading straight to the paint on most offensive sets. Even when he does go to work on the perimeter, his screens have often lacked intensity and effectiveness. In the 2022-23 season, Morant led the league in pick-and-roll possessions as the ball handler, averaging 12.8 per game. To truly elevate the Grizzlies’ offense, Edey must become a reliable screen-setter, allowing Morant to fully utilize his explosiveness and create opportunities for himself and his teammates in the halfcourt.

Concerns about Edey’s perimeter defense have been prevalent since his college days, begging questions surrounding his ability to keep up in the NBA’s switch-heavy, wing-oriented game. So far, the preseason has provided little reassurance. While Edey’s lateral mobility appears to have improved slightly from his time at Purdue, he still struggles with his side-to-side agility out toward the three-point line. Opposing teams will undoubtedly abuse him in pick-and-roll situations, especially during the playoffs, exploiting his slow footwork and routinely targeting him.