After a positive off-season, the David Fizdale and Memphis Grizzlies can now sleep even better at night. Center Marc Gasol has been cleared to play after recovering from a broken right foot he suffered last season, according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal.
The Grizzlies will open training camp for the 2016-17 regular season with one of their best players ready to go, a big sigh of relief for the franchise.
According to Ronald Tillery, Gasol has ramped up his workouts and is participating in basketball activities. Tillery also mentions the Grizzlies staff will be cautious, but theyโre positive Gasol will bounce back to full form.
Gasol recently returned to Memphis for strength and conditioning. Gasol is also playing pickup games, according to sources with knowledge of his progress. The Griz took a cautious approach to Gasol's rehabilitation and are upbeat about his return to form on the basketball court, according to the sources.
...Gasol will turn 32 years old in January, almost halfway through the season. So conventional wisdom would suggest that the Griz would initially put him on a minute restriction and allow the foot to strengthen for a strong stretch run.
There have been mixed results with big men returning from the injury over the past 15 seasons. Joel Embiid, a former Kansas Jayhawk, has yet to play in the NBA after suffering a midfoot fracture. Former Rockets center Yao Ming had a midfoot fracture during the 2008-09 season at age 29, and the injury essentially ended his career. Former NBA big men Brendan Haywood, Michael Olowokandi and Eric Montross never recovered.
Cleveland center Zydrunas Ilgauskas is one of the success stories. The Griz believe they have every reason to believe that Gasol will be a positive exception, too.
It will be a good call to keep Gasol on a minutes restriction for the start of the season. Although it is important to get off to a good start, a team like the Grizzlies cannot afford to get impatient when it comes to bringing back a player from injury. In short, the NBA doesnโt hand out championships in the regular season. Memphis must be patient with their star big man.
Memphis will open up the 2016-17 season with its annual media day Sept. 26. Training camp will begin right after on Sept. 27 in FedExForum.
