Zach Edey, 7-4

[The-Power]

Edey to me is a upper tier bench C - probably worth a pick in the 25-40 range. A guy that can give you 15-20mpg and change the flow of a game just due to his post gravity. Its hard to find a comparison for him, offensively he is a lot like Yao w/o that sweet midrange shot.

The question is: how many teams currently like to change the flow of the game by adding a taller and slower big man to their line-up off the bench? Which teams ‘size up’ and do not prefer to ‘size down’? I'd say that it's most likely that the team drafting Edey either views him as a starting Center or as a gamble on upside (which means that he'd have likely slipped). I'm not sure that many teams are interested in drafting Edey if they are looking for a 15-20 MPG bench big.

[TheSuzerain]

Yeah I don't think the pitch on him is unobtrusive bench big.

He could be a perfectly fine big off the bench at the end of the day (simply by being super productive in limited minutes). But that's not the pitch.

The pitch is the possibility of building around him as a key player in a starting lineup. He's not one of those versatile/switchable guys that can play in all lineups. He is basically a player you'd need to organize around. I understand why that's a turn-off in some sense, but I think he's one of the few players in the draft where it's actually possible which to me gives him significant upside compared to most of the guys currently considered lotto.

[BlazersBroncos]

Yeah I don't think the pitch on him is unobtrusive bench big.

He could be a perfectly fine big off the bench at the end of the day (simply by being super productive in limited minutes). But that's not the pitch.

The pitch is the possibility of building around him as a key player in a starting lineup. He's not one of those versatile/switchable guys that can play in all lineups. He is basically a player you'd need to organize around. I understand why that's a turn-off in some sense, but I think he's one of the few players in the draft where it's actually possible which to me gives him significant upside compared to most of the guys currently considered lotto.

If Vic and Sochan developed reliable 3PT shots I love the fit of Edey in the middle there. You have the defenders to help offset him if he is picked on, floor stretchers to open the middle for him to work the post.

[TheDraftGuy]

I see Clingan as a sort of super-Zubac and a starting caliber guy.

Edey to me is a upper tier bench C - probably worth a pick in the 25-40 range. A guy that can give you 15-20mpg and change the flow of a game just due to his post gravity. Its hard to find a comparison for him, offensively he is a lot like Yao w/o that sweet midrange shot.

Further, I think a team takes him far earlier than is expected (Middle teens IMO) - and I think unlike most players he has a huge variance in what he ends up as in the NBA - I can see him as a 20/10 hulk of a big or a guy that is out of the league when his rookie deal is up. I just have no idea on him.

This, right here, sums up what I think.

I see some Brad Daughterty in the way Clingan moves. Good touch around the rim and good potential for two way play. Strong legs and decent hips that'll make him difficult to stop. Maybe that makes him a 'super-Zubac' in today's era but he'll be useful to teams like Kessler and Gobert are, nonetheless.


Edey is the perfect bench big with potential to be a good starter. Since you're presumably a Blazer fan, he fits what Enes Kanter was for Portland except with better defense and he also will fill the role Robert Williams III was supposed to.

I won't bet everything on him being 'the next Jokic' but I do think it's funny some of the criticisms thrown at Jokic's direction prior to the draft describe Edey to a tee. I don't think he'll hit that but just like how Jokic becomes akin to what Sabonis was supposed to have been (ie. a David Robinson tier player who could've helped secure 2-3 rings), I could see Edey becoming what Yao Ming was supposed to become.

****************************

On that note, my secret here for finding decent 'traditional centers' is......if, in the three point era, they averaged 14/8.4 in 28 minutes (Shaq's FR minutes) as Freshmen centers on 55-65% FG%?

They're so far ahead of the curve as Freshman that they turn out to be good quality NBA centers, in any era. Practically every traditional center who has put up these freshman numbers haven't failed. At all.

Edey and Clingan match this threshold. So did Duren and Kessler.

DeAndre Ayton, Robert Williams III, and Wendall Carter Jr., as well.

Of course, that list is currently shorter than the other list of names that qualify:

Embiid, Cousins, Shaq, Robinson, Oden, Hakeem, Ralph Sampson.


So, at worst, you get a starting center/good back up due to how advanced they are as a freshman big. At best, you get an All-Star center.

[clyde21]

Yeah I don't think the pitch on him is unobtrusive bench big.

He could be a perfectly fine big off the bench at the end of the day (simply by being super productive in limited minutes). But that's not the pitch.

The pitch is the possibility of building around him as a key player in a starting lineup. He's not one of those versatile/switchable guys that can play in all lineups. He is basically a player you'd need to organize around. I understand why that's a turn-off in some sense, but I think he's one of the few players in the draft where it's actually possible which to me gives him significant upside compared to most of the guys currently considered lotto.

i don't think that's the pitch either tbh, i dont see any team building a modern offense with Edey as the starting center.

but that's why i don't think he'll go very high - b/c whats the pitch? only thing I see is some type of Marjanovic role maybe more mins because Marjanovic was more of a slug but that's really it imo.

i think its nice having a guy that size on your team that can be in an insta bucket in the post kinda like a closing pitcher when you want to close a game you're up by 15 but other that that don't see much utility here

[ItsDanger]

Watch on YouTube

;si=PzBcPnlDAKmXVulm

Finally using him in ballscreen actions more. He's tough to stop and draws way more fouls playing that way. Just imagine with NBA quality PGs.

Teams are stupid not to gamble on using him. What are your alternatives? Remain in bottom half of league drafting athletic guys who cant shoot or create their own offense? Doing a discount version of what better teams excel at is utter stupidity.

[Hoopz Afrik]

Edey or Clingan?

Edey. I'm just not seeing what everyone else is seeing with Clingan.

[HadAnEffectHere]

I think if Edey wins a title this year (Big IF considering how much Purdue has sucked in the postseason in this era), Edey should probably be considered the best player in the last 25 years of college basketball.

[Colbinii]

I don't get what makes him a better prospect than Luka Garza.

[FarBeyondDriven]

Big lumbering centers rarely work out. Kessler at least has incredible length and defensive instincts as a shot-blocker but even he's not more than a #5 due to his inability to defend the perimeter and lack of offense. Edey isn't a very good defender even inside. He gets blocks purely because of the number of chances he gets. I can't see a team finding a way to build around this archetype in today's NBA. The best current example would be Gobert but again, he's elite defensively down low but he's still someone people mock and believes has limited his teams. I'm not sure Edey is going before the middle of the 2nd round.

[Hal14]

Yeah I don't think the pitch on him is unobtrusive bench big.

He could be a perfectly fine big off the bench at the end of the day (simply by being super productive in limited minutes). But that's not the pitch.

The pitch is the possibility of building around him as a key player in a starting lineup. He's not one of those versatile/switchable guys that can play in all lineups. He is basically a player you'd need to organize around. I understand why that's a turn-off in some sense, but I think he's one of the few players in the draft where it's actually possible which to me gives him significant upside compared to most of the guys currently considered lotto.

No NBA team is gonna build around a 22 yr old rookie center who can't shoot, gets all his points on back to the basket post ups & can't switch defensively.

His ceiling is like a Zubac/Poeltl type of guy. That's maybe a guy you take in the 12-20 range but you're not gonna really build around him if he's just a role player 5th starter type of guy.

[TheSuzerain]

Yeah I don't think the pitch on him is unobtrusive bench big.

He could be a perfectly fine big off the bench at the end of the day (simply by being super productive in limited minutes). But that's not the pitch.

The pitch is the possibility of building around him as a key player in a starting lineup. He's not one of those versatile/switchable guys that can play in all lineups. He is basically a player you'd need to organize around. I understand why that's a turn-off in some sense, but I think he's one of the few players in the draft where it's actually possible which to me gives him significant upside compared to most of the guys currently considered lotto.

No NBA team is gonna build around a 22 yr old rookie center who can't shoot, gets all his points on back to the basket post ups & can't switch defensively.

His ceiling is like a Zubac/Poeltl type of guy. That's maybe a guy you take in the 12-20 range but you're not gonna really build around him if he's just a role player 5th starter type of guy.

I mean he's not a 5th starter. He's a usage soak.

He's way more talented (physically and coordination/touch) than either Zubac or Poeltl. So that can't be his ceiling.

[clyde21]

Yeah I don't think the pitch on him is unobtrusive bench big.

He could be a perfectly fine big off the bench at the end of the day (simply by being super productive in limited minutes). But that's not the pitch.

The pitch is the possibility of building around him as a key player in a starting lineup. He's not one of those versatile/switchable guys that can play in all lineups. He is basically a player you'd need to organize around. I understand why that's a turn-off in some sense, but I think he's one of the few players in the draft where it's actually possible which to me gives him significant upside compared to most of the guys currently considered lotto.

No NBA team is gonna build around a 22 yr old rookie center who can't shoot, gets all his points on back to the basket post ups & can't switch defensively.

His ceiling is like a Zubac/Poeltl type of guy. That's maybe a guy you take in the 12-20 range but you're not gonna really build around him if he's just a role player 5th starter type of guy.

I mean he's not a 5th starter. He's a usage soak.

He's way more talented (physically and coordination/touch) than either Zubac or Poeltl. So that can't be his ceiling.

He's an off bench usage soak. you're trying to pitch him as a franchise centerpiece lol

[cupcakesnake]

I don't get what makes him a better prospect than Luka Garza.

Being 7'3.5" barefoot with a 7'10.5" wingspan, mostly.

Garza is 6'10" with a 7'1" wingspan. The questions about what kind of prospect they are are just different. I don't even see them as having particularly similar skill sets or question marks.

[TheSuzerain]

No NBA team is gonna build around a 22 yr old rookie center who can't shoot, gets all his points on back to the basket post ups & can't switch defensively.

His ceiling is like a Zubac/Poeltl type of guy. That's maybe a guy you take in the 12-20 range but you're not gonna really build around him if he's just a role player 5th starter type of guy.

I mean he's not a 5th starter. He's a usage soak.

He's way more talented (physically and coordination/touch) than either Zubac or Poeltl. So that can't be his ceiling.

He's an off bench usage soak. you're trying to pitch him as a franchise centerpiece lol

I think he has a top 5 realistic/visible path to being a core offensive player (i.e. top 2/3 option on a playoff team). His edge isn't going away in the NBA.

[Hal14]

Yeah I don't think the pitch on him is unobtrusive bench big.

He could be a perfectly fine big off the bench at the end of the day (simply by being super productive in limited minutes). But that's not the pitch.

The pitch is the possibility of building around him as a key player in a starting lineup. He's not one of those versatile/switchable guys that can play in all lineups. He is basically a player you'd need to organize around. I understand why that's a turn-off in some sense, but I think he's one of the few players in the draft where it's actually possible which to me gives him significant upside compared to most of the guys currently considered lotto.

No NBA team is gonna build around a 22 yr old rookie center who can't shoot, gets all his points on back to the basket post ups & can't switch defensively.

His ceiling is like a Zubac/Poeltl type of guy. That's maybe a guy you take in the 12-20 range but you're not gonna really build around him if he's just a role player 5th starter type of guy.

I mean he's not a 5th starter. He's a usage soak.

He's way more talented (physically and coordination/touch) than either Zubac or Poeltl. So that can't be his ceiling.

Eh, I don't really buy that. Zubac was drafted at age 19. Poeltl was the 9th pick in the draft at age 20. Edey is still playing college ball - he'll be 22 on draft night.

Poeltl and Zubac have both had fairly long, productive careers. They're proven starting centers in this league - Edey hasn't proven anything above the college level.

So I don't really buy Edey being "way more talented". If he was way more talented, he'd be in the NBA by now.

[TheSuzerain]

No NBA team is gonna build around a 22 yr old rookie center who can't shoot, gets all his points on back to the basket post ups & can't switch defensively.

His ceiling is like a Zubac/Poeltl type of guy. That's maybe a guy you take in the 12-20 range but you're not gonna really build around him if he's just a role player 5th starter type of guy.

I mean he's not a 5th starter. He's a usage soak.

He's way more talented (physically and coordination/touch) than either Zubac or Poeltl. So that can't be his ceiling.

Eh, I don't really buy that. Zubac was drafted at age 19. Poeltl was the 9th pick in the draft at age 20. Edey is still playing college ball - he'll be 22 on draft night.

Poeltl and Zubac have both had fairly long, productive careers. They're proven starting centers in this league - Edey hasn't proven anything above the college level.

So I don't really buy Edey being "way more talented". If he was way more talented, he'd be in the NBA by now.

NIL era has changed some things I think with guys sticking around college.

Although the thing with Edey is while he has improved, he's also been this dominant basically since his sophomore year of college at age 19 (far more dominant that Poeltl was against worse college competition).

And I'm not really trying to tear down Poeltl here. He's quite good. It's just strange to me that a player 4" taller who is a much better shooter is somehow graded as much worse. It just doesn't follow imo.

[Hal14]

I mean he's not a 5th starter. He's a usage soak.

He's way more talented (physically and coordination/touch) than either Zubac or Poeltl. So that can't be his ceiling.

Eh, I don't really buy that. Zubac was drafted at age 19. Poeltl was the 9th pick in the draft at age 20. Edey is still playing college ball - he'll be 22 on draft night.

Poeltl and Zubac have both had fairly long, productive careers. They're proven starting centers in this league - Edey hasn't proven anything above the college level.

So I don't really buy Edey being "way more talented". If he was way more talented, he'd be in the NBA by now.

NIL era has changed some things I think with guys sticking around college.

Although the thing with Edey is while he has improved, he's also been this dominant basically since his sophomore year of college at age 19 (far more dominant that Poeltl was against worse college competition).

And I'm not really trying to tear down Poeltl here. He's quite good. It's just strange to me that a player 4" taller who is a much better shooter is somehow graded as much worse. It just doesn't follow imo.

Edey didn't stay in school for the NIL. He stayed in school because he wasn't projected to get drafted.

He had a pro day at the draft combine on 5/22/23. He Withdrew from the draft on 5/31/23. I just looked up a bunch of mock drafts that were published between those dates and he wasn't listed in any of them..including this one:

https://www.si.com/nba/draft/mock-drafts-and-big-boards/2023-nba-mock-draft-projected-picks-following-the-2023-draft-lottery

[TheSuzerain]

Eh, I don't really buy that. Zubac was drafted at age 19. Poeltl was the 9th pick in the draft at age 20. Edey is still playing college ball - he'll be 22 on draft night.

Poeltl and Zubac have both had fairly long, productive careers. They're proven starting centers in this league - Edey hasn't proven anything above the college level.

So I don't really buy Edey being "way more talented". If he was way more talented, he'd be in the NBA by now.

NIL era has changed some things I think with guys sticking around college.

Although the thing with Edey is while he has improved, he's also been this dominant basically since his sophomore year of college at age 19 (far more dominant that Poeltl was against worse college competition).

And I'm not really trying to tear down Poeltl here. He's quite good. It's just strange to me that a player 4" taller who is a much better shooter is somehow graded as much worse. It just doesn't follow imo.

Edey didn't stay in school for the NIL. He stayed in school because he wasn't projected to get drafted.

He had a pro day at the draft combine on 5/22/23. He Withdrew from the draft on 5/31/23. I just looked up a bunch of mock drafts that were published between those dates and he wasn't listed in any of them..including this one:

https://www.si.com/nba/draft/mock-drafts-and-big-boards/2023-nba-mock-draft-projected-picks-following-the-2023-draft-lottery

I don't care about mock drafts dude.

[BigGargamel]

NIL era has changed some things I think with guys sticking around college.

Although the thing with Edey is while he has improved, he's also been this dominant basically since his sophomore year of college at age 19 (far more dominant that Poeltl was against worse college competition).

And I'm not really trying to tear down Poeltl here. He's quite good. It's just strange to me that a player 4" taller who is a much better shooter is somehow graded as much worse. It just doesn't follow imo.

Edey didn't stay in school for the NIL. He stayed in school because he wasn't projected to get drafted.

He had a pro day at the draft combine on 5/22/23. He Withdrew from the draft on 5/31/23. I just looked up a bunch of mock drafts that were published between those dates and he wasn't listed in any of them..including this one:

https://www.si.com/nba/draft/mock-drafts-and-big-boards/2023-nba-mock-draft-projected-picks-following-the-2023-draft-lottery

I don't care about mock drafts dude.

Mock drafts close to the draft are usually based on league intel. They're guess work but they are educated guess work. They do matter somewhat. Edey was going to be a Luka Garza type, drafted very late in the 2nd or not at all.