Grizzlies Activate Zach Edey, Promote Rookie Cedric Coward to Starting Lineup
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The Memphis Grizzlies rolled out a revamped starting five for Saturday’s matchup in Cleveland, inserting center Zach Edey for his season debut and elevating first-year forward Cedric Coward.
Edey, 23, sat out the first 13 games while recovering from offseason surgery on his left ankle. The 7’4” second-year big man averaged 9.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks on 58% shooting across 66 games as a rookie, finishing fifth in 2024-25 Rookie of the Year voting.
Coward, the No. 11 pick in June, moves into the opening unit after averaging 14.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 26.8 minutes through 13 contests. Listed as doubtful earlier in the day because of right-foot soreness, he was upgraded to questionable and ultimately cleared to play.
The changes send Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Jock Landale to reserve roles. Caldwell-Pope, acquired from Orlando in the offseason Desmond Bane trade, comes off the bench for the first time since the 2019-20 campaign with the Los Angeles Lakers. The 32-year-old guard is averaging 8.1 points while shooting career lows of 35.1% from the field and 29.8% from three, though he is available despite lingering elbow soreness.
Landale, signed in free agency to bridge the gap at center, posted career-best marks of 10.7 points and 5.5 rebounds while starting the first 13 games. He has hit 56.8% of his shots overall and 48.5% from long range.
Memphis enters the night at 4-9 after three consecutive losses, including Wednesday’s 131-95 defeat in Boston. The roster remains thin: Brandon Clarke and Scotty Pippen Jr. continue post-surgery rehabs, Ty Jerome is out with a right calf strain, Olivier-Maxence Prosper is nursing a left quad contusion, and Javon Small is expected to miss several weeks with turf toe.
Source: Hoops Rumors
