Zach Edey Scouting Report - Purdue Center 2024 NBA Draft Breakdown

The Sleepers give their scouting report of 2024 NBA Draft prospect Zach Edey.
PRESENTED BY NBA2KLab! See our full 75-player big board in their 2024 NBA Draft Simulator here: www.nba2klab.c...
Play more 2K mini-games here: nba2klab.com/nba-mini-games
JOIN OUR DISCORD HERE: / discord

[@Jamonpeligroso]

W take, Greg. People way overthink Edey, saying "the game has changed" or whatever. But the game hasn't changed, the way people think about it has. Edey can put ball in hoop, and no one can stop it, he's just too big and too skilled. Everyone is expecting Edey to have to adjust to the NBA, but they wayyy underestimate how much the NBA will have to adjust to HIM.

[@ncremeens]

I generally agree with you that I think he will be a good NBA player but not for the reason you do. He won’t have a big size advantage in the NBA like he does in college. However, I think he is more skilled than most people give him credit for.

[@ZeroG]

What's changed is we haven't had a Shaq/Yao/Robinson/Wilt/Kareem in the draft in 22 years.

[@ZeroG]

@@ncremeensLOL he'll have a huge size advantage in the NBA. It's all smallball stuff.

[@hillbilly21960]

I would not be unhappy if my grizzlies chose him at 9. I don’t know why people don’t see it. JJJ will cover his mistakes and Ja would be his best with him.

[@KnowThyself47]

Couldn't have said it better.....If Okc actually plugs in the Cord and turn on their brain and Draft Zach Edey and Develop him .....DYNASTY

[@robertbullard4266]

Greg and Cart, I think you both have nailed this one. Zach is a sponge waiting to soak up constructive instruction/coaching. He will prove many doubters wrong.

[@pawelszafraniec4212]

True. In good couching organizacion he will develop in beast. In bad organizacion he will be a boost.

[@fredfrond6148]

@@pawelszafraniec4212 Spurs for pop to reach him the game or the raptors at number 19.

[@heavylobster4339]

People talk a lot about Zach Edey's PnR defense, but not enough about his PnR offense. He's a great screener, he was a 100th percentile roll man in college, he has so much gravity on his rolls. Most teams don't use 2 true bigs, so anyone who'd be tagging him in a hedge situation would be at a significant size advantage, and to actually have a chance at stopping him would have to commit aggressively and open up the skip pass to the corner shooter. You don't want to switch against him, because perimeter players can't guard him 1v1 and you'd have to double aggressively. For the same reason you can't put even bigger and more versatile wings on him, in the way the Celtics have put Tatum on bigs to avoid Porzingis being put into PnR actions. Drop coverage is your best bet, but if you pair Edey with a high-level guard you can attack that really well too. You could try trapping and daring Edey to make the right play in a 4-on-3, but if he develops as a playmaker that could also potentially get shredded. And even if he doesn't get the ball directly, if you don't get bodies on him he can kill you on the offensive glass. Edey likely won't get many straight post-ups against opposing centers, but there's so many ways to create mismatches in modern NBA offenses off standard actions that'll either put him in a great position to score outright, give him absurdly abusable mismatches, or even just let him get really deep post position where even guys who aren't horrible size mismatches have no chance. There's definitely a clear Valenciunas/Zubac archetype in the league for guys who do that sort of thing, and can do it at starting center(25-30 per game) minutes. Edey already does that at a high level, and has the tools to be the best in the league in that role. In that respect he's a very safe pick relative to others in this draft class. The real question is just how impactful Edey can be in this role, and if he can expand his game beyond it to take himself into star or even superstar territory.

[@markyacoubian1911]

I think he would be good on the Grizzlies. Especially in pick and rolls with Ja Morant.

[@austinhopper1619]

👀🤞🐻

[@mecreature123]

Crazy the change in conversation about Edey.

[@abandonallhope]

Sabonis is a really good starting center, he's averaging 19 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists.

[@noahwert9970]

As a pacers fan all i can imagine is the amount of jerseys the pacers would sell if they got him

[@alind77]

I would give anything to get him in a Pacer's jersey. Unfourtunately, it just doesn't make any sense whatsoever, and it wouldnt' be good for his development. I've tried to think of a way he fits into thier playstyle and I just can't see it.

[@noahwert9970]

@@alind77 yeah not as a starter for sure. He's a much better rebounder than anyone on the team but he and Myles can't play together. We learned that already with Domas

[@gregtaylor5856]

Eddy will long gone by the time Pacers get there.

[@timeconquersall1789]

All I know Is he'll be a big body in the paint. With an almost 8 foot long wingspan. And he might slow down jokerA tiny bit That's a good enough reason To draft them with the twentieth pic They don't turn into much of anything anyway

[@sihri2683]

Lakers would be a great if not the best fit for Edey. 2 generational players to learn from, both bigs if you consider Bron a PF and the size on the court with Edey, Ad & Bron would be nuts not to mention the pick & rolls would be something to behold.

[@theetruth8626]

No Milwaukee his best fit

[@Reeferal]

@@theetruth8626he even has a similar shooting form to Brook Lopes

[@ppsmol3597]

With hiring JJ Redick as head coach, Lakers probably become the worst place for Edey

[@blacksuede]

​@@ppsmol3597 Reddick not going to LA

[@blacksuede]

Lakers a good fit. He's working out with them today.

[@traceyflack5499]

Love the OKC fit. Makes alot of sense

[@Frazedaddy]

One of his most under appreciated traits is his discipline and work ethic

[@lawsnewton]

Spurs will be drafting Edey most likely at 8 to backup Wemby to share minute, foul and large player match up load. Not mention a crazy dominate Big to Big in the post between Wemby and Edey.

[@theetruth8626]

Stop it San Antonio drafting Risacher and Topic

[@Wellingtonfun]

Zach edey to Thunder let's go

[@theetruth8626]

That's not happening OKC wants a center that's stretch the floor

[@KnowThyself47]

​@@theetruth8626 He can Shoot the 3 and if Okc can develop Lu Dort 3ball they can Develop Zach Edey......Zach Edey Simply has to be Developed by Arvydas Sabonis and it's over for the NBA

[@theetruth8626]

@@KnowThyself47 stop lying to yourself your imagination is big.

[@Wellingtonfun]

@@KnowThyself47 I agree he is going to be great, people are sleeping on him

[@artduart1286]

Edey to Memphis

[@markyacoubian1911]

That's the right answer!

[@chadalexander2905]

Exactly

[@austinhopper1619]

Psychic

[@burningknuckle26]

Edey gonna be a beast

[@stewartoflaherty5985]

I'd love to see him on the Wizards

[@hartdahl]

I really want Memphis to take him at 9

[@neanam]

😎

[@shashishekhar----]

You called it my man

[@Jewdah18]

The Timberwolves are by far the best fit. They have the perimeter defenders to help Edey on defense, Ant is unguardable one on one, and they have floor spacers. If the Wolves got Edey, it would be the reincarnation of Kobe and Shaq.

[@jefferyrosario2144]

Don’t like it cause Rudy is there

[@Jewdah18]

@@jefferyrosario2144 He would replace Rudy.

[@champagne_bath_8964]

I hope my Hawks take Edey #1 please 🙏🏾

[@corbenwatts9375]

I said before last year's draft, Edey's better than Wembanyama. He just needs to be with a coach who knows how to get him touches and he'll be fine. Knicks, Phoenix or Milwaukee would be great spots I think

[@ryu-ken]

Edey would be crazy on okc/spurs/raps

[@samuelrimmer5381]

I want the wizards to take him if he is still there with the 26th pick, i hope they don't pick sarr with 2

[@Reeferal]

The fact that he has the stamina to play 30+ minutes consistently is a huge plus. I remember they had to keep playing Yao in spurts in the playoffs because of stamina at his size. Never understood how all of a sudden drafting becomes so complicated. The bigger you are the more airspace you can consume, can Zach play the drop with his current measurable? Well if teams think Donovan Clingan can there is no reason Zach can’t.

[@Chuck-e7d]

Toronto is best fit for him. He is gonna be just as good if not better in the NBA. He is still improving.

[@theetruth8626]

No Milwaukee the best fit

[@Chuck-e7d]

@@theetruth8626 Yeah after mulling it over you are probably correct.

[@idarthwazupz3217]

I think that the Warriors would be a great fit for him. His insane rebounding and post presence paired up with Curry's shooting will do wonders.

[@theetruth8626]

Beware of Milwaukee drafting Edey

[@ssjj005]

Ceiling is Yao Ming

[@daggerthree]

Edey is going to be at least as good as Zubac. He can much better than that though. He's only played hoops for 7 years.

[@ba47501]

San Antonio

[@Purdue7]

Nobody will outwork him

[@CaseTwelve]

I'm taking him at 7 and pairing him in the pnr with Scoot for the next decade.

[@neanam]

He going to the mighty Memphis Grizzlies

[@stevemendel275]

Fantastic! Let's chug the Zach Edey koolaid!!

[@grouchygrundle]

I'm hoping this kid slides to 16 n the sixers make a great decision and draft thus monster. You can pair anyone with embiid. Simmons was always the problem not horford or anyone else. Sixers need another big guy for boards. This kid is no joke though. Wait till he adds a little more muscle

[@TheWGBMUSIC]

Okc would be 🤪 not to have him as a backup center. If he really can shoot the ball at 12 okc would get a steal.

[@Frazedaddy]

It’s a different league than 10yrs ago but I still think edey could up being better than Yao eventually and have a longer career

[@rodglaid2395]

76ers will draft Z.Edey For Embid Back Up Center , N.Nurse Like Z.Edey From Canada

[@zacharylaughlin6029]

13th to the kings????

[@wcarlosbrown]

Hopefully he gets drafted by the Lakers. They NEED a center. Get AD back to his natural position. Pause

[@darkmanxxx8810]

Stocks or blocks? Lol

[@rodglaid2395]

Im Sure 76ers will draft Z.Edey

[@darkmanxxx8810]

CHARLOTTE

[@ulamog]

Edey doesn’t have the foot speed to be competitive in the NBA

[@shadshad2972]

Casual lol, you just repeat what you hear. He’ll make all rookie team

[@GoodGame391]

He beat sarr in agility and clingam in agility and 3/4 speed at the combine

[@dennisdezarn5895]

Because all they do is sprint up and down all game long! He will probably die trying to keep up. Or explode from the energy expulsion. That would be tough on the league's image, a player exploding at mid court in the middle of the game.😢

[@KnowThyself47]

His Agility is the same as Daron Holmes