An office phone rings, the news breaks, and a season’s trajectory shifts in an instant. For Tuomas Iisalo's regrouping Memphis Grizzlies , the summer of 2025 was a chorus of such alerts, each one carrying a blow to the rotations. Turf toe surgery for All-Star Jaren Jackson Jr .. A re-aggravated ankle for promising rookie Zach Edey . Lingering knee issue for the relentless Brandon Clarke . It all adds up to Santi Aldama's Spanish flair having more influence on the team's identity to start the season. EVP/GM Zach Kleiman made a significant bet that kind of fallback plan would pay off earlier this summer for a reason.

Zach Edey underwent surgery in June to address laxity in his left ankle and, as of September 26 , is expected to be out for six to nine weeks. Jaren Jackson Jr. had

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