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More frontcourt help on the way, with a delay, for Grizzlies

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There's been a lot of conversation about the Memphis Grizzlies' backcourt, as they've scuffled to a 4-7 start, whether it's Ja Morant's displeasure or Desmond Bane's absence.

But the team may be getting some boosts in the frontcourt soon.

Second-year center Zach Edey is scheduled to play for the first time this season sometime on the current road trip, with more information on that forthcoming.

And now there's news on backup forward Brandon Clarke, who had a knee scope.

If Clarke "ramps up" his rehabilitation in six to nine weeks, that puts his return around the start of the new year. Memphis can use him. In his six seasons, many marked by injuries, Clarke has still managed to average 10.2 points per game on better than 60 percent shooting. Last season, he averaged 18.9 minutes, and he can provide some additional relief for Jaren Jackson, Jr., and Edey, when the latter is back. Clarke doesn't stretch the floor, and he hasn't improved as some hoped since a strong rookie season, but he's reliable offensively in many ways and Memphis can use the bench punch.

Jock Landale and Santi Aldama have been averaging 25 minutes apiece in the absence of Edey and Clarke, but those figures are likely to decrease if the Grizzlies get fully healthy.

Memphis must get some bodies, and confidence, back soon. The Grizzlies can't afford to slip much more in the tough Western Conference.

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Ethan J. Skolnick
ETHAN J. SKOLNICK

Ethan has covered all major sports -- in South Florida and beyond -- since 1996 and is one of the longest-tenured fully credentialed members of the Miami Heat. He has covered, in total, more than 30 NBA Finals, Super Bowls, World Series and Stanley Cup Finals. After working full-time for the Miami Herald, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Palm Beach Post, Bleacher Report and several other outlets, he founded the Five Reasons Sports Network in 2019 and began hosting the Five on the Floor podcast as part of that network. The podcast is regularly among the most downloaded one-team focused NBA podcasts in the nation, and the network is the largest independent sports outlet in South Florida, by views, listens and social media reach. He has a B.A. from The Johns Hopkins University and an M.S. from Columbia University. TWITTER: @EthanJSkolnick and @5ReasonsSports EMAIL: fllscribe@gmail.com

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