Tim MacMahonESPN Staff Writer2 Minute Reading
Steven Adams was injured diving on his right knee for the ball
In Jan. 22, 2023, Steven Adams injured his right knee while diving for a loose ball in the final seconds of the Grizzlies’ loss to the Suns.
Adams, who underwent stem cell injections about a month ago, has not played since spraining his posterior cruciate ligament while diving for a loose ball in the final seconds of a loss to the Phoenix Suns in January 22.
Adams was originally expected to miss three to five weeks. He was ruled out for the remainder of the regular season after receiving a stem cell injection in the knee on March 8.
Adams, 29, who agreed to a two-year, $25.2 million contract extension during training camp, averaged 8.6 points, 11.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 42 games this season. The Grizzlies went 28-14 with Adams in the lineup.
Memphis will also be without primary reserve center Brandon Clarke (torn Achilles tendon) for the playoffs. Xavier Tillman Sr. played well. in place of Adams, who averaged 9.7 points and 6.7 rebounds in 29 starts.
The Grizzlies, the No. 2 seed of the Western Conference, addressed their frontcourt depth issue by converting rookie power forward Kenneth Lofton Jr.’s two-way contract. to a four-year, $7 million deal, his agents Mike George and Corey Barker of One Legacy Sports told ESPN. Lofton, the G League’s Rookie of the Year, would not have been eligible for the playoff roster had he remained on a two-way contract.
Memphis waived rookie point guard Kennedy Chandler, a second-round pick, to make a roster spot for Lofton.
