Overview:

Zach Edey is a classic Center.  Super efficient, Edey is a 7 footer who plays his role very well.  Edey is heavy footed by NBA standards and would need to be a defensive juggernaut to be a viable NBA player.  2022-23 will be Edey’s junior year at Purdue.   

NBA skill:  Rim protection

Note:  Prospects compared to statistical averages of drafted NBA players (2017-2022), by position, from their last college season.

Guards = Below 6’5″

Wings = 6’6″ to 6’9″

Posts = Above 6’10”

Blue      Comparable to average drafted NBA players by position.

Green  Exceeds the average drafted NBA players by position.

Red      Below the average of drafted NBA players by position.

Darker color signifies a greater statistical variance.

Offense:

Zach Edey is a classic Center.  Despite being a behemoth Edey plays with energy and urgency.  Edey brings unapologetic physicality to each game.  Edey moves well within the paint and is predatory at sealing his man.  Most of his shots are at the rim and he finishes at a high rate, 64 / – / 64.  The drop step and left shoulder hooks are his go-to moves.  19% of Edey’s production is Offensive rebounds  

Edey’s Shot Mix is predictably 63% Post Ups, yielding 1.2 Points Per Play, Excellent. And 35% At the Rim, yielding 1.5 PPP, Excellent.  

Edey’s advance metric scoring numbers are stellar;

Free throw rate 53%

Effective Field Goal Percentage 64%

True Shooting 65%

Usage 34%

PER 40.9 

Edeys numbers are way beyond the averages of previously drafted NBA posts but it is not certain Edey could thrive in the NBA game.

Current shooting efficiency notwithstanding, Edey will need more soft touch finishes and a consistent face up jumper to add to his game.  Edey will also need to have better spatial awareness to avoid being stripped so frequently.  

Wanna sees:

Face up jumper to space the floor

Better spatial awareness on double teams and help

Assists and Decision Making.  

Edey would be well served to improve his passing and ball security.  With some many Post Up touches he should be able to improve his assist numbers.  Of course a lot of that is dependent on teammates who can finish.  However, when 35% (23/65) of your turnovers are “Lost Ball” improving in that area would have a big impact.  

20% of his turnovers (13/65) were offensive fouls from illegal use of his elbows, not moves going to the basket.  Edey has to feel where the double teams are coming from and make quick adjustments.  Not be surprised on a catch when someone is chopping down.  Fixing these two elements of his game will go a long way.

Wanna see 

Decreasing offensive fouls

Improved ball security 

Improve spatial awareness.

Rebounding and defense 

Edey is a good not great rebounder.  From sheer size he gets rebounds that smaller guys can’t get.  While this is valuable at the college level, those types of “look what I found” rebounds are few and far between.  Edey crashes the offensive glass really well which always has value.  

Defensively, Edey’s below average quickness and agility is apparent.  Even for a big man he doesn’t log many steals, literally one every 5 games.  For 2021-22 Edey posted only 9 steals for the entire year.  Just being more handsy would garner more deflections and could also turn into being credited with a steal. Edey’s blocks numbers are also low.   Edey gets a lot of face to face blocks, which are not that prevalent in the NBA.  Essentially these are miscalculations by the offensive play thinking that they can score over a 7’4” rim protector.  Often they are wrong.  On the other hand, NBA players are far more crafty and can finish through contact.  Edey would be well served to add different blocks to his defense.   

Wanna See

More advanced blocks;  Weak side and side chase down blocks

Tier of 2023 draft prediction: Second round