Zach Edey, 7-4

[jasonxxx102]

Zach might be the best screener in the NBA from day one. He's incredibly strong and technically sound; he leans his weight into his picks and makes heavy contact. He rarely if ever slips or ghost screens. Notice how adept he is at finding the right angles, re-screening, and Varejao screening/flipping the screen. He's also amazing at carving out space and laying those Gortat screens in the paint for his penetrating teammates.

For what it's worth, Sam Vecenie rated him as the best screener in all of NCAA D1 basketball:

Spoiler:

Though posting up is Edey’s bread and butter, he has significant potential as a screener. I think Edey was the best screener in college basketball this season. He sets physical picks when he makes contact, then opens his hips well to roll into space and make a big target. He was good at re-screening and flipping his angle to get his
guards space to shoot or pass back to him.

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This dude is definitely related to Eddy. The level of fanboi is just off the charts

[bucknut]

Looks nimble to me.

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;pp=ygUVWmFjaCBlZGR5IGRlZmVuc2UgbmJh

[ItsDanger]

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[jezzerinho]

Looks nimble to me.

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;pp=ygUVWmFjaCBlZGR5IGRlZmVuc2UgbmJh

Compare and contrast Edey's body movement at last years Combine workouts compared to this year's.

There's a world of difference. Like, its glaringly obvious. He's much stronger, more light-of-foot, more fluid - overall way more athletic and coordinated than just a year prior.

Edey will be fine physically. People forget that it takes any young guy time for the muscles, ligaments and neurons to catch up with a big growth spurt. A less coordinated period while the body is developing all that is to be expected. Now put that in a 7'4" frame and frankly its impressive how much and how quickly Edey has shed the real clunkiness.

He'll never be confused for Myles Turner but that would be defeating the point of his mismatch advantage.

[FrodoBaggins]

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[The-Power]

Please delete (double post)

[The-Power]

I've talked myself into Edey quite a bit. Production and positional size is something I believe I have underrated at times in the past relative to some other variables and Edey obviously has those two variables going for him. I would not bat an eye anymore if Memphis took him at #9. Heck, I would possibly take him there myself if I was their GM.

And even though I have Clingan as the superior defensive prospect (mostly due to his elite rim protection), I am a bit more worried about his offense (he is the better passing prospect but Edey's different level of physicality and better touch makes him a much bigger scoring threat and produces gravity) and then there's the greater injury concerns. So Edey may well be the #1 Center on my board.

[BlazersBroncos]

I've talked myself into Edey quite a bit. Production and positional size is something I believe I have underrated at times in the past relative to some other variables and Edey obviously has those two variables going for him. I would not bat an eye anymore if Memphis took him at #9. Heck, I would possibly take him there myself if I was their GM.

And even though I have Clingan as the superior defensive prospect (mostly due to his elite rim protection), I am a bit more worried about his offense (he is the better passing prospect but Edey's different level of physicality and better touch makes him a much bigger scoring threat and produces gravity) and then there's the greater injury concerns. So Edey may well be the #1 Center on my board.

Ya - Clingan's injury history and Edey's ironman status are two issues that have been under-discussed leading up to this draft.

Bigs that start with lower body injuries as early has Donovan have a pretty scary track record.

Edey on the other hand has shown unprecedented durability and conditioning for someone his size. I cant think of anyone who has come close really.

[jezzerinho]

I've talked myself into Edey quite a bit. Production and positional size is something I believe I have underrated at times in the past relative to some other variables and Edey obviously has those two variables going for him. I would not bat an eye anymore if Memphis took him at #9. Heck, I would possibly take him there myself if I was their GM.

And even though I have Clingan as the superior defensive prospect (mostly due to his elite rim protection), I am a bit more worried about his offense (he is the better passing prospect but Edey's different level of physicality and better touch makes him a much bigger scoring threat and produces gravity) and then there's the greater injury concerns. So Edey may well be the #1 Center on my board.

Ya - Clingan's injury history and Edey's ironman status are two issues that have been under-discussed leading up to this draft.

Bigs that start with lower body injuries as early has Donovan have a pretty scary track record.

Edey on the other hand has shown unprecedented durability and conditioning for someone his size. I cant think of anyone who has come close really.

Edey would be my top center.

[GoBobs]

I've talked myself into Edey quite a bit. Production and positional size is something I believe I have underrated at times in the past relative to some other variables and Edey obviously has those two variables going for him. I would not bat an eye anymore if Memphis took him at #9. Heck, I would possibly take him there myself if I was their GM.

And even though I have Clingan as the superior defensive prospect (mostly due to his elite rim protection), I am a bit more worried about his offense (he is the better passing prospect but Edey's different level of physicality and better touch makes him a much bigger scoring threat and produces gravity) and then there's the greater injury concerns. So Edey may well be the #1 Center on my board.

The thing that makes Edey way ahead of Clingan to me is the free throw percentage. Edey is at 70%, Clingan was at 58% last year. You have to be really really good to overcome a ft percentage in the 50s.

It makes a huge difference in the post because the guy in the 50 range you don't worry about getting called for a foul. The guy in the 70 range, you try not to foul. Edey also draws fouls at a historic rate becuase it hard to guard a bigger stronger guy without fouling.

[greg4012]

I've talked myself into Edey quite a bit. Production and positional size is something I believe I have underrated at times in the past relative to some other variables and Edey obviously has those two variables going for him. I would not bat an eye anymore if Memphis took him at #9. Heck, I would possibly take him there myself if I was their GM.

And even though I have Clingan as the superior defensive prospect (mostly due to his elite rim protection), I am a bit more worried about his offense (he is the better passing prospect but Edey's different level of physicality and better touch makes him a much bigger scoring threat and produces gravity) and then there's the greater injury concerns. So Edey may well be the #1 Center on my board.

Ya - Clingan's injury history and Edey's ironman status are two issues that have been under-discussed leading up to this draft.

Bigs that start with lower body injuries as early has Donovan have a pretty scary track record.

Edey on the other hand has shown unprecedented durability and conditioning for someone his size. I cant think of anyone who has come close really.

How is it unprecedented? Did prior giants like Yao Ming and Kristaps have injury issues before the NBA?

My concern with such giants is always the wear and tear over time in a more physical game that forces them into unnatural movements with regularity.

[BlazersBroncos]

I've talked myself into Edey quite a bit. Production and positional size is something I believe I have underrated at times in the past relative to some other variables and Edey obviously has those two variables going for him. I would not bat an eye anymore if Memphis took him at #9. Heck, I would possibly take him there myself if I was their GM.

And even though I have Clingan as the superior defensive prospect (mostly due to his elite rim protection), I am a bit more worried about his offense (he is the better passing prospect but Edey's different level of physicality and better touch makes him a much bigger scoring threat and produces gravity) and then there's the greater injury concerns. So Edey may well be the #1 Center on my board.

Ya - Clingan's injury history and Edey's ironman status are two issues that have been under-discussed leading up to this draft.

Bigs that start with lower body injuries as early has Donovan have a pretty scary track record.

Edey on the other hand has shown unprecedented durability and conditioning for someone his size. I cant think of anyone who has come close really.

How is it unprecedented? Did prior giants like Yao Ming and Kristaps have injury issues before the NBA?

My concern with such giants is always the wear and tear over time in a more physical game that forces them into unnatural movements with regularity.

Zinger averages 16.7mpg averaged for the 2012 / 2013 / 2014 seasons prior to making the NBA.
I cant find MPG for Yao w/ Shanghai - but he was relatively durable early in his career.

[ItsDanger]

I've talked myself into Edey quite a bit. Production and positional size is something I believe I have underrated at times in the past relative to some other variables and Edey obviously has those two variables going for him. I would not bat an eye anymore if Memphis took him at #9. Heck, I would possibly take him there myself if I was their GM.

And even though I have Clingan as the superior defensive prospect (mostly due to his elite rim protection), I am a bit more worried about his offense (he is the better passing prospect but Edey's different level of physicality and better touch makes him a much bigger scoring threat and produces gravity) and then there's the greater injury concerns. So Edey may well be the #1 Center on my board.

Ya - Clingan's injury history and Edey's ironman status are two issues that have been under-discussed leading up to this draft.

Bigs that start with lower body injuries as early has Donovan have a pretty scary track record.

Edey on the other hand has shown unprecedented durability and conditioning for someone his size. I cant think of anyone who has come close really.

How is it unprecedented? Did prior giants like Yao Ming and Kristaps have injury issues before the NBA?

My concern with such giants is always the wear and tear over time in a more physical game that forces them into unnatural movements with regularity.

Yao Ming had broken his foot at least twice prior to NBA.

[greg4012]

Ya - Clingan's injury history and Edey's ironman status are two issues that have been under-discussed leading up to this draft.

Bigs that start with lower body injuries as early has Donovan have a pretty scary track record.

Edey on the other hand has shown unprecedented durability and conditioning for someone his size. I cant think of anyone who has come close really.

How is it unprecedented? Did prior giants like Yao Ming and Kristaps have injury issues before the NBA?

My concern with such giants is always the wear and tear over time in a more physical game that forces them into unnatural movements with regularity.

Yao Ming had broken his foot at least twice prior to NBA.

Thanks this is the sort of context I’m looking for. Any link?

[ItsDanger]

How is it unprecedented? Did prior giants like Yao Ming and Kristaps have injury issues before the NBA?

My concern with such giants is always the wear and tear over time in a more physical game that forces them into unnatural movements with regularity.

Yao Ming had broken his foot at least twice prior to NBA.

Thanks this is the sort of context I’m looking for. Any link?

Wikipedia. I just remembered once with Shanghai Sharks prior to draft.

[Big J]

I've talked myself into Edey quite a bit. Production and positional size is something I believe I have underrated at times in the past relative to some other variables and Edey obviously has those two variables going for him. I would not bat an eye anymore if Memphis took him at #9. Heck, I would possibly take him there myself if I was their GM.

And even though I have Clingan as the superior defensive prospect (mostly due to his elite rim protection), I am a bit more worried about his offense (he is the better passing prospect but Edey's different level of physicality and better touch makes him a much bigger scoring threat and produces gravity) and then there's the greater injury concerns. So Edey may well be the #1 Center on my board.

Don't fall for the production fallacy with this archetype. Happens all the time with college bigs: Hansborough, Timme, Okafor, Samhan, Bagley, Wiseman, ect.

[JonHeist]

I've talked myself into Edey quite a bit. Production and positional size is something I believe I have underrated at times in the past relative to some other variables and Edey obviously has those two variables going for him. I would not bat an eye anymore if Memphis took him at #9. Heck, I would possibly take him there myself if I was their GM.

And even though I have Clingan as the superior defensive prospect (mostly due to his elite rim protection), I am a bit more worried about his offense (he is the better passing prospect but Edey's different level of physicality and better touch makes him a much bigger scoring threat and produces gravity) and then there's the greater injury concerns. So Edey may well be the #1 Center on my board.

Don't fall for the production fallacy with this archetype. Happens all the time with college bigs: Hansborough, Timme, Okafor, Samhan, Bagley, Wiseman, ect.

Wiseman: only played 3 games in college lol

Hansborough's last season: 21/8/1/1/0 on 61% TS .261 WS/40 ??? BPM

Samhan's last season: 21/11/1/0/3 on 59% TS .267 WS/40 ??? BPM

Timme's last season: 21/8/3/1/1 on 63% TS .240 WS/40 9.6 BPM

Okafor's last season: 17/9/1/1/1 on 65% TS .235 WS/40 10.4 BPM

Bagley's last season: 21/11/2/1/1 on 64% TS .248 WS/40 10.8 BPM

Edey's last season: 25/12/2/0/2 on 66% TS .336 WS/40 16.8 BPM


wow it's almost like he's been way more productive than all those guys

the only college players to have been arguably more efficient/productive in the modern era are Zion and AD

[azcatz11]

I've talked myself into Edey quite a bit. Production and positional size is something I believe I have underrated at times in the past relative to some other variables and Edey obviously has those two variables going for him. I would not bat an eye anymore if Memphis took him at #9. Heck, I would possibly take him there myself if I was their GM.

And even though I have Clingan as the superior defensive prospect (mostly due to his elite rim protection), I am a bit more worried about his offense (he is the better passing prospect but Edey's different level of physicality and better touch makes him a much bigger scoring threat and produces gravity) and then there's the greater injury concerns. So Edey may well be the #1 Center on my board.

Don't fall for the production fallacy with this archetype. Happens all the time with college bigs: Hansborough, Timme, Okafor, Samhan, Bagley, Wiseman, ect.

Wiseman: only played 3 games in college lol

Hansborough's last season: 21/8/1/1/0 on 61% TS .261 WS/40 ??? BPM

Samhan's last season: 21/11/1/0/3 on 59% TS .267 WS/40 ??? BPM

Timme's last season: 21/8/3/1/1 on 63% TS .240 WS/40 9.6 BPM

Okafor's last season: 17/9/1/1/1 on 65% TS .235 WS/40 10.4 BPM

Bagley's last season: 21/11/2/1/1 on 64% TS .248 WS/40 10.8 BPM

Edey's last season: 25/12/2/0/2 on 66% TS .336 WS/40 16.8 BPM


wow it's almost like he's been way more productive than all those guys

Because they ran the entire offense thru him...

[JonHeist]

Spoiler:

Don't fall for the production fallacy with this archetype. Happens all the time with college bigs: Hansborough, Timme, Okafor, Samhan, Bagley, Wiseman, ect.

Wiseman: only played 3 games in college lol

Hansborough's last season: 21/8/1/1/0 on 61% TS .261 WS/40 ??? BPM

Samhan's last season: 21/11/1/0/3 on 59% TS .267 WS/40 ??? BPM

Timme's last season: 21/8/3/1/1 on 63% TS .240 WS/40 9.6 BPM

Okafor's last season: 17/9/1/1/1 on 65% TS .235 WS/40 10.4 BPM

Bagley's last season: 21/11/2/1/1 on 64% TS .248 WS/40 10.8 BPM

Edey's last season: 25/12/2/0/2 on 66% TS .336 WS/40 16.8 BPM


wow it's almost like he's been way more productive than all those guys

Because they ran the entire offense thru him...

is that supposed to be a knock on him?

he put up 66%TS and led them to the title game

they ran the whole offense through him because he was so good at scoring that you'd have to be insane not to

[FarBeyondDriven]

Before my Final board I have to figure out how likely a team is going to feed him off the PnR and whether I trust he can pass out of doubles and triple teams when they collapse. There's real potential he's a more aggressive defender since he won't be worried about fouling out and even as a mostly drop coverage big he's simply just too massive to not have an impact on guys driving and out to 15 feet. Can he defend the perimeter? But, can any of these centers besides Sarr? So then you're left with can he pick and pop from 3 and from 15 feet and how long, if ever, does it take him to develop that skill? I think the answer to these questions are answered by where he lands. If a team takes him in the lottery it means they'll feed him. If he's late 1st or early 2nd he's not going to be starting and without starting and getting reps it'll be hard for him to develop.

I think I'm going to hold off from a Final Big Board until after the draft. Too much depends on where they're drafted