This offseason we are going to pin some discussion topics for a few days, first will be draft prospects

• Tristan Da Silva (SF Colorado)
• Zach Edey (C Purdue)
• Johnny Furphy (SG/SF Kansas)
• Tyler Smith (PF G-Leauge Ignite)
• Kyle Filipowski (PF/C Duke)
• TBD (Bub Carrington?) I would consider Bronny here, but people wouldn't like my profile on him (don't think he's even a 2nd round pick this year)

Let us know who TBD should be or if someone is too unlikely to be there when we pick

Most importantly, leave your thoughts on the prospect, these posts are meant to be places to discuss whatever you want related to the draft or the prospect!

Zach Edey | 7′ 3.25” 300lbs | C | age: 22.2

Stats in '24

25/12/2 and 2.2 blocks per game on 62 fg 71 ft

Background:

• Hockey/Baseball player, came to Basketball Late (first played organized his soph year of HS)

• Back to Back national player of the year award winner, the first sole winner of the year b2b since Bill freaking Walton

• Tallest player in Big 10 history

• Cut the nets after a March Madness win without using a ladder

• Improved his shooting and body (movement) every year at Purdue

Strengths

• SIZE, Measured 7′ 3.25” barefoot, 9′ 7.50” standing reach, 306.4 lbs and a 7′ 10.50” wingspan and a 26 inch standing vertical and a 29.5′ inch max vertical at the 2023 NBA Draft Combine (he looked like a gym teacher playing against middle-schoolers at times)

• Touch and footwork around the basket (62% fg on high volume), crafty, uses his size to his advantage (some big guys don't)

• Shooting/free throws have steadily improved each year (remember, he was late to basketball)

• Good vision, far from a blackhole like some BIGs his size can be, Purdue played through him on offense, relying on him to make the right pass at the right moment

• Rim protection (2.2 blocks per game and countless others altered)

• Strength, I'm not sure even Embiid will be able to bully him physically

Weakness

• Athleticism, his weak vertical (29") is considered to be even worse than recorded as people speculate he 'tanked' his standing reach measurement

• Foot speed/perimeter defense, while he has good footwork on offense, on defense his foot speed is a major concern (will he just get torched/hunted in PnR?)

• I'm going to list this one twice FOOT SPEED, bc it's why he might be available at 20, his foot speed is so concerning he might not be able to play even if every other part of his game translates…he's a plodder whose rim protection will have to outweigh his perimeter defense issues

• 3 point shooting, never going to happen, he will always be a below the free throw line guy

Conclusion

Zach Edey is my #1 target on draft night, if he can improve his foot speed he's a steal and likely an above average starting C in the league

He is a bit of a project, I don't expect him to translate immediately, he'll have to work on his body like Emoni, the skill is there they both need to get with a nutritionist and in the weight room

He's never going to be able to switch on the perimeter but if he can just hedge and recover, he'll be THE steal of the draft

He fits very well on this roster, we are in dire need of a big body for the Embiid or even Moe Wagner's of the world but we are so talented at our starting PF/C position that he won't be pushed to play soon or against bad matchups

Ceiling: Roy Hibbert

Likely: Gheorghe Mureșan

Floor: Tacko Fall

Thanks for reading! Please add your thoughts on Zach or anything else to do with the draft in here