Zach Edey, 7-4

[TheSuzerain]

Purdue playing him 40 minutes a game is kind of wild though.

[summary]

One thing we will know, the Edey is a bench player, not NBA player vs Edey is a top 5 (probably #1 pick if these posters have more fortitute in their beliefs) pick who you should compare to Shaq, Davis, LeBron. Only one camp will be right.

He is the most polarizing NBA propsect to come along potentially ever. His mean expectation is 7th man, not in the NBA type.

It seems less like people are saying he should go #1 than some are saying with his statistical profile being similar to some college greats that taking him in the lottery seems worth a gamble, particularly late in the lottery and in this draft specifically. Versus those saying he is undraftable and unplayable, to a 10 minute backup at his peak.

If you look at ideal redrafts of 2015-2020 and you look at spots 10-14 your talking bigs like Montrezl Harrell, Grant Williams, Wendell Carter Jr being the value. I haven't seen anyone here saying he's going to be Shaq or Anthony Davis in the NBA. You hope maybe he gets a little quicker, finds a good system and you might get value like Steven Adams being drafted 12th but arguably being at the edge of the top 5 in his draft.

[Hoopz Afrik]

Zach Edey is 7'4" 285 lbs. with a 7'10" wingspan. He has a soft touch, strong hands, and is a smart basketball player on both ends. He's gotten markedly better every year at Purdue which is a testament to his work ethic. I'm not buying all of this 'unplayable' talk and that his game won't translate. I'm not expecting him to be an all-star but him eventually becoming a starter isn't out of the realm of possibility and at the very least he is a backup/rotational big you can screen, finish, rebound in spot minutes. He's top 20 for me and I could think of a few teams that could really use a guy like him.

[FrodoBaggins]

Zach Edey is 7'4" 285 lbs. with a 7'10" wingspan. He has a soft touch, strong hands, and is a smart basketball player on both ends. He's gotten markedly better every year at Purdue which is a testament to his work ethic. I'm not buying all of this 'unplayable' talk and that his game won't translate. I'm not expecting him to be an all-star but him eventually becoming a starter isn't out of the realm of possibility and at the very least he is a backup/rotational big you can screen, finish, rebound in spot minutes. He's top 20 for me and I could think of a few teams that could really use a guy like him.

Is that 285 an official weight? He was 306.4 pounds at the 2023 NBA Combine. He supposedly lost some weight coming into this season. I suspect he's like 295?

[tester551]

One thing we will know, the Edey is a bench player, not NBA player vs Edey is a top 5 (probably #1 pick if these posters have more fortitute in their beliefs) pick who you should compare to Shaq, Davis, LeBron. Only one camp will be right.

He is the most polarizing NBA propsect to come along potentially ever. His mean expectation is 7th man, not in the NBA type.

It seems less like people are saying he should go #1 than some are saying with his statistical profile being similar to some college greats that taking him in the lottery seems worth a gamble, particularly late in the lottery and in this draft specifically. Versus those saying he is undraftable and unplayable, to a 10 minute backup at his peak.

If you look at ideal redrafts of 2015-2020 and you look at spots 10-14 your talking bigs like Montrezl Harrell, Grant Williams, Wendell Carter Jr being the value. I haven't seen anyone here saying he's going to be Shaq or Anthony Davis in the NBA. You hope maybe he gets a little quicker, finds a good system and you might get value like Steven Adams being drafted 12th but arguably being at the edge of the top 5 in his draft.

You are absolutely correct.
Unfortunately there are a lot who struggle with reading comprehension

[FarBeyondDriven]

More than half the POYs become solid rotation guys. And there are quite a few stars or at least good starters in there. That seems a strong a signal as you're going to get when it comes to draft prognostications.

And he's not just the POY. He's the most dominant player in the last 25 years. So we don't have a population of those to consider. He's the only one.

He's a freaking senior though. James Wiseman would be averaging 30 & 15 if he was still in the NCAAs.

Kind of funny that you are knocking him for being an upperclassmen and using an example of a player that was drafted number 2 after his freshman season and turned out to be a total bust.

Maybe WIseman should have stayed in school and learned some things before he tried his hand at the NBA. Or maybe he would have been an bust anyway and he did good to grab a bag. Point is most of these guys who are freshman and sophomores are even bigger risks.

Wiseman was injured and didn't play in college. He went to the worst situation in the entire NBA for a young center when he was drafted by the Warriors who couldn't afford to develop young players. He missed his entire 2nd season due to injury. Then he gets traded to the worst franchise in the NBA (Pistons) where he's competing for minutes under buffoon coaches. Like 90% of the time Wiseman plays 20 mpg he averages a double double.

Wiseman is still just 22 y/o. The bust label is dumb. At least let him get to a decent situation and allow him to play and maybe reach 24 y/o before writing him off. He was a gifted, long athlete at 7'1" with skills around the basket and potential as a shooter. That is why he was taken high and why he's a different prospect than Edey.

[GoBobs]

He's a freaking senior though. James Wiseman would be averaging 30 & 15 if he was still in the NCAAs.

Kind of funny that you are knocking him for being an upperclassmen and using an example of a player that was drafted number 2 after his freshman season and turned out to be a total bust.

Maybe WIseman should have stayed in school and learned some things before he tried his hand at the NBA. Or maybe he would have been an bust anyway and he did good to grab a bag. Point is most of these guys who are freshman and sophomores are even bigger risks.

Wiseman was injured and didn't play in college. He went to the worst situation in the entire NBA for a young center when he was drafted by the Warriors who couldn't afford to develop young players. He missed his entire 2nd season due to injury. Then he gets traded to the worst franchise in the NBA (Pistons) where he's competing for minutes under buffoon coaches. Like 90% of the time Wiseman plays 20 mpg he averages a double double.

Wiseman is still just 22 y/o. The bust label is dumb. At least let him get to a decent situation and allow him to play and maybe reach 24 y/o before writing him off. He was a gifted, long athlete at 7'1" with skills around the basket and potential as a shooter. That is why he was taken high and why he's a different prospect than Edey.

What you are saying is totally true. He might turn it around. It might be circumstance, but he has gotten a lot more chances than a lot of other guys as well.

If you are drafted #2 and you don't get extended by a team that drafted you than you are probably a bust though. If you are a backup for the worst team in the league, things aren't looking good for your career. He could be had very cheaply by a team wanting to trade for him. Most Pistons fans would probably tell you he is a bust, and he in fact is a bust until he proves otherwise.

[CptCrunch]

Wiseman is almost exactly 1 year older than Edey.

Wiseman is 12.7/8.1 in 25 tragic minutes in the NBA this season. Yes, he looks unplayable most of the time.

Thought experiment, how many points would/should Wiseman average right now in the NCAA if he got to play college basketball?

Another bonus question, I think most would have Donovan Clingan above Edey right? Now, would you take now (with hindsight) Walker Kessler over Clingan? Now if you can answer these questions, you will arrive at a sensible evaluation.

[GoBobs]

Wiseman is almost exactly 1 year older than Edey.

Wiseman is 12.7/8.1 in 25 tragic minutes in the NBA this season. Yes, he looks unplayable most of the time.

Thought experiment, how many points would/should Wiseman average right now in the NCAA if he got to play college basketball?

Another bonus question, I think most would have Donovan Clingan above Edey right? Now, would you take now (with hindsight) Walker Kessler over Clingan? Now if you can answer these questions, you will arrive at a sensible evaluation.

I'm sure Wiseman would be a good college guy by now. Tako Fall was good in college. That doesn't mean he would be Edey good though. Edey is an all time great in college. Maybe one of the top guys ever.

In any case if the argument is we shouldn't pick the good college player because the guy who came out early and busted might have been good if he stay in college.... I will take the guy who has proven something.

I have Edey > Kessler > Clingan

both Kessler and Clingan are a disaster at the ft line and that is a huge negative. Neither has the offensive game of Edey to punish teams that try and go small. Edey is much more physical than either guy in terms of boxing out.

[Hoopz Afrik]

Zach Edey is 7'4" 285 lbs. with a 7'10" wingspan. He has a soft touch, strong hands, and is a smart basketball player on both ends. He's gotten markedly better every year at Purdue which is a testament to his work ethic. I'm not buying all of this 'unplayable' talk and that his game won't translate. I'm not expecting him to be an all-star but him eventually becoming a starter isn't out of the realm of possibility and at the very least he is a backup/rotational big you can screen, finish, rebound in spot minutes. He's top 20 for me and I could think of a few teams that could really use a guy like him.

Is that 285 an official weight? He was 306.4 pounds at the 2023 NBA Combine. He supposedly lost some weight coming into this season. I suspect he's like 295?

Not official but I thought I read that he shed 20 lbs. entering his senior year. You might be right though in that 295 lbs. might be more realistic.

[Big J]

Wiseman is almost exactly 1 year older than Edey.

Wiseman is 12.7/8.1 in 25 tragic minutes in the NBA this season. Yes, he looks unplayable most of the time.

Thought experiment, how many points would/should Wiseman average right now in the NCAA if he got to play college basketball?

Another bonus question, I think most would have Donovan Clingan above Edey right? Now, would you take now (with hindsight) Walker Kessler over Clingan? Now if you can answer these questions, you will arrive at a sensible evaluation.

I'm sure Wiseman would be a good college guy by now. Tako Fall was good in college. That doesn't mean he would be Edey good though. Edey is an all time great in college. Maybe one of the top guys ever.

In any case if the argument is we shouldn't pick the good college player because the guy who came out early and busted might have been good if he stay in college.... I will take the guy who has proven something.

I have Edey > Kessler > Clingan

both Kessler and Clingan are a disaster at the ft line and that is a huge negative. Neither has the offensive game of Edey to punish teams that try and go small. Edey is much more physical than either guy in terms of boxing out.

Wiseman averaged 20 & 10 as a college freshman! He would easily be putting up similar or better numbers than what Edey is doing.

[Big J]

He's a freaking senior though. James Wiseman would be averaging 30 & 15 if he was still in the NCAAs.

Kind of funny that you are knocking him for being an upperclassmen and using an example of a player that was drafted number 2 after his freshman season and turned out to be a total bust.

Maybe WIseman should have stayed in school and learned some things before he tried his hand at the NBA. Or maybe he would have been an bust anyway and he did good to grab a bag. Point is most of these guys who are freshman and sophomores are even bigger risks.

Wiseman was injured and didn't play in college. He went to the worst situation in the entire NBA for a young center when he was drafted by the Warriors who couldn't afford to develop young players. He missed his entire 2nd season due to injury. Then he gets traded to the worst franchise in the NBA (Pistons) where he's competing for minutes under buffoon coaches. Like 90% of the time Wiseman plays 20 mpg he averages a double double.

Wiseman is still just 22 y/o. The bust label is dumb. At least let him get to a decent situation and allow him to play and maybe reach 24 y/o before writing him off. He was a gifted, long athlete at 7'1" with skills around the basket and potential as a shooter. That is why he was taken high and why he's a different prospect than Edey.

Wiseman's problem is the same problem that Edey has. Neither of them can play defense.

[madmaxmedia]

Edey has worked hard to develop the skills to become an elite NCAA player, even if he’s not a top NBA prospect. Sure a lot of G-League guys could put up numbers in the NCAA, but few are going to lead a team through the tourney to a title game.

As far as his NBA prospects go, I’d think someone in the teens who would at least like some more team height would take a go at him. By the teens you’re mostly ending up with role players anyway, and he seems like a reasonable low ceiling but higher floor prospect.

[Big J]

Edey has worked hard to develop the skills to become an elite NCAA player, even if he’s not a top NBA prospect. Sure a lot of G-League guys could put up numbers in the NCAA, but few are going to lead a team through the tourney to a title game.

As far as his NBA prospects go, I’d think someone in the teens who would at least like some more team height would take a go at him. By the teens you’re mostly ending up with role players anyway, and he seems like a reasonable low ceiling but higher floor prospect.

Lotta bum or non NBA players have also led their teams to an NCAA title game. Sanogo, Sean May, Pervis Ellison, ect.

[GoBobs]

Wiseman is almost exactly 1 year older than Edey.

Wiseman is 12.7/8.1 in 25 tragic minutes in the NBA this season. Yes, he looks unplayable most of the time.

Thought experiment, how many points would/should Wiseman average right now in the NCAA if he got to play college basketball?

Another bonus question, I think most would have Donovan Clingan above Edey right? Now, would you take now (with hindsight) Walker Kessler over Clingan? Now if you can answer these questions, you will arrive at a sensible evaluation.

I'm sure Wiseman would be a good college guy by now. Tako Fall was good in college. That doesn't mean he would be Edey good though. Edey is an all time great in college. Maybe one of the top guys ever.

In any case if the argument is we shouldn't pick the good college player because the guy who came out early and busted might have been good if he stay in college.... I will take the guy who has proven something.

I have Edey > Kessler > Clingan

both Kessler and Clingan are a disaster at the ft line and that is a huge negative. Neither has the offensive game of Edey to punish teams that try and go small. Edey is much more physical than either guy in terms of boxing out.

Wiseman averaged 20 & 10 as a college freshman! He would easily be putting up similar or better numbers than what Edey is doing.

LMAO, 3 game samples size! Two of those three games were South Carolina State and the University of Illinois at Chicago. The only quality team he ever played was Oregon and he only scored 14 points in that one.

[Big J]

I'm sure Wiseman would be a good college guy by now. Tako Fall was good in college. That doesn't mean he would be Edey good though. Edey is an all time great in college. Maybe one of the top guys ever.

In any case if the argument is we shouldn't pick the good college player because the guy who came out early and busted might have been good if he stay in college.... I will take the guy who has proven something.

I have Edey > Kessler > Clingan

both Kessler and Clingan are a disaster at the ft line and that is a huge negative. Neither has the offensive game of Edey to punish teams that try and go small. Edey is much more physical than either guy in terms of boxing out.

Wiseman averaged 20 & 10 as a college freshman! He would easily be putting up similar or better numbers than what Edey is doing.

LMAO, 3 game samples size! Two of those three games were South Carolina State and the University of Illinois at Chicago. The only quality team he ever played was Oregon and he only scored 14 points in that one.

He averaged 20 & 10 against the G League. Those guys are grown ass men. College is not that hard to score against.

[mhd]

Edey has worked hard to develop the skills to become an elite NCAA player, even if he’s not a top NBA prospect. Sure a lot of G-League guys could put up numbers in the NCAA, but few are going to lead a team through the tourney to a title game.

As far as his NBA prospects go, I’d think someone in the teens who would at least like some more team height would take a go at him. By the teens you’re mostly ending up with role players anyway, and he seems like a reasonable low ceiling but higher floor prospect.

Lotta bum or non NBA players have also led their teams to an NCAA title game. Sanogo, Sean May, Pervis Ellison, ect.

Pervis wasn't a bum. Knee injuries killed his career. When he was on the court, he was legit.

[Benjammin]

^Exactly.

Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk

[2weekswithpay]

Wiseman averaged 20 & 10 as a college freshman! He would easily be putting up similar or better numbers than what Edey is doing.

LMAO, 3 game samples size! Two of those three games were South Carolina State and the University of Illinois at Chicago. The only quality team he ever played was Oregon and he only scored 14 points in that one.

He averaged 20 & 10 against the G League. Those guys are grown ass men. College is not that hard to score against.

G League is fast paced, offensive friendly, and the bigs are terrible.

[madmaxmedia]

Edey has worked hard to develop the skills to become an elite NCAA player, even if he’s not a top NBA prospect. Sure a lot of G-League guys could put up numbers in the NCAA, but few are going to lead a team through the tourney to a title game.

As far as his NBA prospects go, I’d think someone in the teens who would at least like some more team height would take a go at him. By the teens you’re mostly ending up with role players anyway, and he seems like a reasonable low ceiling but higher floor prospect.

Lotta bum or non NBA players have also led their teams to an NCAA title game. Sanogo, Sean May, Pervis Ellison, ect.

I'm not saying leading a big tourney run makes them a legit NBA player, of course the athletic floor required in the NBA is significantly higher. I only commented because of the Edey and Wiseman comparisons which IMO are very apples to oranges. At each their respective drafts, Wiseman will have been drafted higher for a reason, but I don't think Wiseman could have done what Edey has done this tournament-

30 PTS | 21 REB, 23 PTS | 14 REB, 27 PTS | 14 REB, 40 PTS | 16 REB, 20 PTS | 12 REB.

Pervis was a stud and clear leader in Louisville's title run and a good comparison in that regard to Edey, but injuries cut his NBA career short. I think the other guys much less so?