Washington Wizards vs Memphis Grizzlies: preview and player stats (Apr 7, 2027)

The Wizards announced Thursday that Watkins has undergone surgery for a torn ACL. Watkins, a two-way player for the Wizards, suffered the injury during the Summer League. Although Washington has yet to offer a timetable for a return, a typical recovery time for the procedure is approximately 9-to-12 months. That leaves Watkins in serious jeopardy of missing most, if not all, of the 2026-27 season, and it remains to be seen if the team will continue keeping him around on a two-way roster spot while he's injured.

Champagnie (foot) is expected to miss several months, per Josh Robbins of The Athletic. The forward underwent surgery Wednesday to address a fractured foot, and the Wizards hope Champagnie will be ready to return at some time around the All-Star break in February. The likes of Bilal Coulibaly, Tre Johnson and Bub Carrington will all be asked to help pick up the slack for the foreseeable future.

Vukcevic (hip) has been ruled out for Monday's game against Detroit. Vukcevic has yet to make his season debut due to a left hip impingement. The big man can be viewed as week-to-week until the Wizards provide an update on his progress.

The Wizards announced Monday that Beekman sustained a right acromioclavicular joint injury and will be re-evaluated in approximately three weeks. Beekman is set for an extended absence, with his re-evaluation timeline suggesting he could remain sidelined beyond the initial three-week window. The injury further limits Washington's backcourt depth, though Beekman's absence is unlikely to have a significant impact on standard fantasy leagues.

Carrington (chest) has been ruled out for the remainder of Thursday's game against the Pistons. Carrington played 16 minutes before exiting the contest due to a chest contusion. He had two points (1-6 FG, 0-3 3Pt) and two assists before being ruled out. Washington will provide an injury update when available.

Edey won't play in Friday's game against the Pelicans due to left ankle injury management. Edey will get the night off after appearing in eight straight games for the Grizzlies. Isaiah Stewart and Taylor Hendricks are next in line for minutes at center considering both Edey and Quinten Post (concussion) are listed out for Friday.

Pippen (back) remains out for Wednesday's game against Denver, Michael Wallace of the Grizzlies' official site reports. With Pippen set to miss another game, Memphis will continue to operate without one of its backcourt reserves. He has now been sidelined for six straight contests due to the back issue and can be considered week-to-week until Memphis offers an update on his recovery. Cam Spencer remains worth streaming in most fantasy leagues.

Post (concussion) has been ruled out for Friday's game against New Orleans. Post will miss a second straight game while in the league's concussion protocol, and his next opportunity to play will come Saturday against Brooklyn. With Zach Edey (left ankle injury management) sitting out the front end of this back-to-back set, Isaiah Stewart will likely get the starting nod, while Taylor Hendricks figures to see increased burn off the bench.

Saunders signed a two-way contract with the Grizzlies on Saturday, Shams Charania of ESPN reports. Saunders is still on the mend from a torn right ACL that he suffered during his final year at BYU. However, he has been cleared for on-court activities and will be allowed to practice with the Grizzlies now that he's officially signed with the team.