Grizzlies Update: Aldama Embraces Center Duties as Injuries Mount
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MEMPHIS — Forward Santi Aldama said he did not anticipate logging heavy minutes at center when he signed a three-year contract with the Grizzlies last summer, but injuries to Zach Edey and Brandon Clarke have forced the move. In an interview with Mark Medina of EssentiallySports, the 23-year-old explained that shifting from power forward to the middle has changed his responsibilities on both ends of the court.
“As a five, you’re more in the middle of the floor setting screens and looking for pops, rolls or cuts,” Aldama said, adding that point guard Ja Morant has helped him adapt to new spacing requirements.
Injury Report
Ja Morant: Initially listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game against Minnesota, the two-time All-Star was downgraded to doubtful after spraining his left ankle Monday in just his second game back from a calf strain.
Brandon Clarke: The 29-year-old is questionable to make his season debut Wednesday as he completes rehab from right knee surgery. Clarke has appeared in only 70 games since the start of the 2023-24 campaign.
Cam Spencer: The rookie guard will miss Wednesday’s contest for personal reasons, mirroring the absence of his brother, Warriors guard Pat Spencer. Over his last 10 games, Cam Spencer is averaging 16.9 points and 5.2 assists while shooting 63.6% from three-point range.
Zach Edey: Orthopedic specialists told The Memphis Commercial Appeal that the 7-foot-4 center’s stress reaction involves bone, not the ligaments and soft tissue repaired during offseason ankle surgery. Doctors expect Edey to return early in the new year, provided the injury does not recur.
Source: Hoops Rumors
