Ended up writing too many characters on my report to where I literally can't fit it all on here.

The jist of it was:

Likes:

• Edey is pretty good at the rim. He's an insanely efficient scorer and shooter with a great FG percentage of 62% and considering he's not attempting shots outside of the little arc in the paint, it puts into perspective just how good he is up close to the hoop. It's hard to deny some of the things he offers, but I also felt like it was hard to deny some of his issues, even if they are pretty minor at times and don't really tank down how I view him as an inside offensive presence.

• Overall, Edey can practically only have an impact in the paint defensively, and a player or team which isn't afraid of his length and will go at him anyways, might be more successful in scoring than other teams considering Edey's lack of energy and athleticism. I think Edey can still be a pretty solid rim protector, it's hard not to see that on film in the way he was altering shot attempts, players decision making, and just preventing most attempts which went near him, but he's flawed and it's also hard not to see that. Don't expect him to guard 1-on-1 too much, even in the paint he didn't seem to do that often. I see the argument that Edey wouldn't be good if he wasn't 7'4, and while I think that's a dumb argument most of the time, I do think Edey relies on his length a bit too much defensively to where I think you could have a discussion. Edey even in the areas he's not the best at still brings something to the table which makes up for what he lacks a bit. I don't think he's amazing, but saying he's bad is just wrong.

• Edey can play through heavy usage and is almost unanimously the part of that Purdue team which made into the finals of the NCAA tournament this year. I'd say he can be reliable in terms of playing extended periods of time, something kind of valuable for a center of his size.

• He was constantly improving in college year to year.

• Averaged an insane 25 points and 12 rebounds to finish off his collegiate career. He also got 30 double doubles this season alone (69 in total). He can definitely fill up the stat sheet.

+

Worries:

• Although this could easily be a like purely from his stats, I'd be lying if I said I liked him a ton as a rebounder and his efforts really put me off from him as a rebounder. (might seem out of place here, but in the original review this fit in well) I think his lack of engagement is less of him mentally being out of it, and more of his body just not being able to cooperate all that well with his maximum potential.

• Even though he's a senior and already 22 (which isn't actually too old, but probably not ideal), and seniors and older prospects are expected to be NBA ready out of the gate, a big argument surrounding Edey's game is if it will translate well into the NBA, and honestly, while I think people blow it out of proportions at times, it is a fair question and something I also wonder about.

• Edey has an insane frame at 7'4, 300 pounds, but I think he's too big. There are definitely pros to his frame, but there's also some issues which come from it which actually might overshadow what there is to like. Of course you can't be too sure about something like this, so that's why it's a worry and not a dislike, but definitely something to keep in mind.

+

Dislikes:

• Not a good shooter and I don't really believe a shot will come up considering his age (even though he's not that old) and that he didn't show flashes of one in college and that his form isn't the prettiest.

• Don't expect him to play make or do anything noticeable in terms of assists, does practically the bare minimum for a center averaging 2 assists. And even with him not doing anything crazy at all, he finished the season with a negative assist/turnover ratio of 0.9 by averaging 2.3 turnovers, which is too much.

• For someone who can only do the most basic with his ball handling, he's not even executing the basics at a good enough level for me to feel whatever about his ball handling.

• Edey's really not athletic at all.

• His lack of a motor creates more questions as to how well his game will translate into the NBA and makes him a more interesting prospect.

• Even though he moves off the ball, he doesn't do anything noteworthy and for his team to have success from his off-ball movement, they have to rely on him heavily to be able to create for himself in the paint once he has the ball, which is probably not what you want from off-ball movement.

C - HT: 7’3” - WING: 7’10” - WT: 310 - A: 22

- Huge center who is an elite rim protector and post scorer
- One of the best NCAA players of all-time
- Great post game but has great touch with his long floater, giving the floor more space
- Good connective passer
- He’s gotten way lighter on his feet this year, and with this giant wingspan has been way better contesting perimeter shots - could be the swing skill he needs to stick
- A 1 of 1 with his giant size and weight. Would be the heaviest player in the NBA. Makes smaller centers look like wings.
- Will need to scale down his usage and remain efficient and involved at the next level, focusing less on scoring and more on role player attributes (rim pro, screening, passing)
- Older prospect. His recent improvement is amazing but he is more of a finished product than young 18/19yo prospects. A contending team should pick him over Yang or Clingan
- Shades of Joel Embiid, Brook Lopez without the range, Jakob Poeltl but huge
- Best fits: OKC, POR, TOR, IND, SAC

Poste(s) : C

Âge : 21 ans

Taille : 2m24

Stats : 24.6pts, 12.0reb, 2.1ast, 0.2stl, 2.2blk

Adresse : 62%fg, N/A%3pt, 71%ft

"Petit" Yao Ming car Edey lui ressemble en tous points mais lui rend environ 5cm. La question étant est-ce que ce profil peut encore prospérer dans la NBA actuelle ? Oui, répondront ceux qui se fient au retour sur le devant de la scène de pivots dominants. Non, pour ceux qui voient surtout des joueurs capables de s'écarter chez Embiid, Wemby et consorts. En tout cas, Edey prétend savoir shooter à 3pts prétextant que ce n'était simplement pas son rôle à Purdue.

GSW position: C

Highs: can defend the paint, get rebounds, can create his own shot in the post

Lows: he’s not versatile (a traditional big man), big risk on taking him, has to add more to his game

Strengths:

Big

Great Post Game

Solid Passer

Good Finisher

Terrific Defender

Very Strong

Weaknesses:

Older

Slow

Player Comparisons: Joel Embiid

What else is there to say?

My biggest question with Edey is the defensive footwork. If he can develop some good lateral movement, even if it means sacrificing a bit of the weight, we've seen what 7'4"+ CAN do defensively.

Offensively he won't be able to dominate like he did in college, I don't think. He does have a nice touch, and as a whole I think he'll be able to get his points.

If Zach Edey can move up and down the floor at an NBA pace, he can be an absolute problem.

Ceiling: GOAT conversations Floor: 7'4" Charlotee Frank Kaminsky Comparison: 2015 Euro Cup Boban Marjanovic

Favorite Fits:

1. New York Knicks

2. Philadelphia 76ers

3. Orlando Magic

STRENGTHS:

• Easily the most physically imposing player in this draft class; close to 300 pounds, 7'4" with a 7'11" wingspan. The most special of physical traits in this class

• With his physical traits, he was able to perfectly execute seals and drop steps, had good touch on hook shots for the most part

• His finishing around the rim was excellent and it came an a multitude of ways; shot 76% at the basket, 82% on rolls to the basket, had 56 putback makes and made 89% of his shots off of cuts

• His physical traits allows him to be an incredible rebounder; good length and strength and keeps the ball high when he does get two hands on it

• Utilized his length very solidly defensively; not a savant defender at all, but does have good enough when he has to stretch his arms out

WEAKNESSES:

• His favorite shot in the post is over his left shoulder. When the shot gets blocked off, his touch and composure seems iffy to me

• Does not stretch the floor by any means; I am not falling for the pre-draft workouts

• How effective of an offensive player will he truly be at the next level? Is his straight post-up play viable with the starting or second unit in the NBA? How will he stay an offensive option?

• Stamina is not great; a little nitpicky, but it is important to keep in mind how tired he gets and he would not be a great fit for any NBA offense who prefers to run (i.e. Indiana Pacers offense)

• How he develops as a screener is interesting; played a role at Purdue where he was the center piece of the offense, did not screen often at Purdue but did with the Canadian national team

• Everything else is going to revolve around his defense:

  • Recovery speed is lackluster

  • Does not do a good job of positioning himself

  • Closeout speed and effort is not good

All will put him in bad positions on pick-and-pops and not being up on the ball, and in downhill situations where players blow right by him. A lot of the concern is when he gets pulled out of the paint, which will be more often at the NBA level.

Summary: Zach Edey is easily the toughest player to rank on this board. His weaknesses on both ends of the floor are very loud for me too ignore, in terms of his foot speed and lack of post-up counter moves. He showed to be a great play finisher and an underrated defender in the paint. How his offensive game translates at the NBA level and how he is able to modernize his game will be the biggest things to watch for him. The physical traits will allow him to be the back-up center right away, and is absolutely going to need a point guard off the bench to run a two-man game with. That and his touch around the rim should make him one of the more impactful players in this rookie class from the jump.

Player Comparison: Shades of Jonas Valanciunas and Ivica Zubac