NBA Notes: Grizzlies, Zach Edey, Lakers, Heat, Giannis Antetokounmpo

Grizzlies

Zach Edey may not have to wait until the regular season to get back on the floor.

The Grizzlies center has been cleared for on-court activity, and general manager Zach Kleiman said Monday that Edey remains on schedule to be available for the Oct. 21 opener, according to Chris Herrington of The Daily Memphian.

Kleiman didn’t rule out Edey appearing during the preseason, either.

That’s encouraging news after injuries interrupted the 7-foot-4 center’s second NBA season. Memphis is entering a very different era after trading Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., making Edey’s continued development one of the more interesting pieces of the rebuild.

Lakers

Quentin Grimes got paid this summer, and now he’d like to prove the Lakers were right to do it.

Grimes, who landed a four-year, $60 million contract, said at media day that he isn’t treating the deal as some sort of finish line, as relayed by Silver Screen and Roll.

The same applies to Walker Kessler, another major Lakers addition who acknowledged that playing in Los Angeles brings a different level of scrutiny.

Kessler arrived in a trade with the Jazz and is expected to play a significant role alongside Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves as the Lakers begin life after LeBron James.

Pressure in Los Angeles? Imagine that.

Heat

Giannis Antetokounmpo says he’s still adjusting to the sight of himself in a Heat uniform after spending the first 13 years of his NBA career in Milwaukee. But apparently he’s adjusting just fine.

“I’m in a very, very good place,” Antetokounmpo said Monday, per Barry Jackson and Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald.

Giannis admitted the whole thing remains “weird,” but added that Miami has “a culture that fits my personality.”

“I thrive when I’m uncomfortable,” he said.

Antetokounmpo also had some strong praise for new teammate Bam Adebayo, calling him one of the NBA’s best two-way players. The two spent years trying to make life miserable for each other. Now they’ll be doing it to everybody else.