Despite a stellar season and college career for 7'4 Purdue center Zach Edey, there is a lot of skepticism surrounding his game. While he is coming off a season in which he averaged a terrific 25 points, 12 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game, there are concerns about how he'd be able to defend in the perimeter-oriented NBA.
That could negatively affect his ceiling, but he may also have a high floor, given his skill in scoring inside the paint and potential as a rim protector. Those concerns, contrasting with his strengths, have made it hard to pinpoint where Edey might go in the upcoming NBA Draft.
Some have him going towards the end of the first round, with one of the best teams possibly being in a position to draft him. On the other hand, some see him as a late lottery pick and if that is the case, then FS1's Nick Wright believes that the Miami Heat should strongly consider selecting him. Meanwhile, former NBA player Nick Young believes that the San Antonio Spurs would be a great fit.
Nick Wright thinks the Miami Heat should draft Zach Edey
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 9, 2024
“Bam can kinda extend the floor, I know he’s not the greatest shooter and Edey can play down low. I think there’s a place for him”
(Via @WhatsWrightShow / h/t @WheelerJaylen ) pic.twitter.com/GZlPUoNMRX
Spurs are a playoff team with Edey in 2 yrs if they draft him
— Nick Young (@NickSwagyPYoung) April 9, 2024
Does Zack Edey make sense for the San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat?
Both the Heat and Spurs already have star centers in Victor Wembanyama and Bam Adebayo, but Wright and Young believe that either team would be better if they had Edey. If nothing else, Edey would make for an interesting fit. The Heat currently have the 14th pick in the NBA Draft but that would ultimately depend on what happens in the play-in tournament.
Miami did take a four-year college player, Jaime Jacquez Jr., last year, and that has been a great pick thus far. However, for Edey to succeed, he has to play in a specific system that is geared towards his strengths. Historically, that has been the Spurs, with coach Gregg Popovich seemingly preferring to play two big men.
Despite that, Wembanyama has been much better since moving up to center and the Spurs already have two capable backup big men. That would decrease the need for them to draft another big man and they project to be selecting in the top 10, ahead of where Edey is expected to go.
Overall, Wright and Young's suggestion that the Heat and Spurs are good landing spots for Edey doesn't entirely track. Even still, he could be a value pick if he falls into the 20s for a team that could use scoring and size.