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It’s time for another installment of Brew Hoop’s draft prospect coverage. This year, the Milwaukee Bucks have some picks at their disposal. To kick things off, we analyzed Colorado’s Tristan da Silva. This time around, we head over to the Big Ten and look at Purdue’s big man.
Overview
If you’re like me and are a fan of the Wisconsin Badgers, you’re extremely happy that Zach Edey is no longer in West Lafayette. It seemed as if he’d never leave Purdue. Ultimately, he put up one of the best and most dominant college careers we’ve seen in a long time. Standing with a frame of 7’4”, he’s an absolute giant, which brings both strengths and weaknesses. Let’s dive in.
Strengths
Scoring: Edey utilized his size effortlessly in college to score points. I can’t tell you how many times he’d just barely jump, get the ball, and drop it in the hoop. When you’re that tall, you can do that. But what’s impressive is how easy he makes it look. He put up 25.2 points per game (and while we’re at it, 12.2 rebounds per game) his senior year. Edey boasts great footwork to go along with his height and stature, allowing him to piece things together efficiently. It’ll be intriguing to see how that translates to the NBA due to the increase in oppoenets’ size and physical strength, but it’s definitely a plus for Edey.
Defensive Awareness: You might typically expect a big man—especially at the college level — to struggle with an overwhelming level of physicalness. However, that was never really the case with Edey. He always knew how to toe the line when it came to defense. He’d do more than contest the shot but never crossed the line and picked up unnecessary fouls. Now, some fans would absolutely (and sometimes rightfully so) complain about how the calls were made on those defending him, but Edey rarely got into much foul trouble in college.
Rebounding: Edey prioritizes his strong base and uses it to corral in nearly every ball that’s around him. It’s quite impressive how he’s able to rebound so effortlessly. It’s not just because of his height too. I mentioned his footwork and how it benefits him. He’s always getting set down low to battle whoever’s on him, making any scenario of him not getting the board near impossible. He does so on both offense and defense as well. As his body fills out, this will likely continue to be a strong part of his game.
Weaknesses
Shooting: This was never a strength of his at Purdue. He’s never been a threat from the perimeter and in today’s day and age, a big man is nearly unplayable if they aren’t at least halfway decent in that category. There was a video going around of him at a draft workout connecting on three after three, but he’s going to need to prove he can do it in actual game action first. He could also improve at the charity stripe, as he shot just 70 percent in that department.
Speed: There’s a legitimate chance that the speed of the NBA is something that Edey really struggles with. Watching his tape and games, it’s clear that he’s not a fast mover. While he exhibits solid footwork in multiple facets of his game, it’s clear that agility isn’t included. He doesn’t really move well from side to side or up the court. This may cause some struggles regarding pick and roll coverage. This may change with a conditioning program of whatever team he gets drafted to, but right now, it’s one of his weaknesses.
Turnovers: The speed may also catch up to Edey in regards to how fast defenders can move on him, especially with their hands. As he’s posting up, he does so in a near slow-motion manner. He won’t have that much time in the NBA. This may allow quick-moving defenders to strip him of the basketball, forcing him to enhance his post moves in a more precise manner. When you’re that tall in college, you’re allowed to use more time with your back to the basket. It won’t be the same in the NBA.
Player Comparison
I saw one comparison of Edey to Boban Marjonovic and I thought that was absolutely perfect. Both are absolute freaks. They move slowly but in a dominant manner. However, despite outmatching their opponents with such physical force, the speed and physicality of defenders catch up to them and impose challenges. Obviously, it remains to be seen how Edey will develop, but he and Boban definitely do share a lot of similarities.
Keep it tuned to Brew Hoop for continued NBA Draft coverage as we inch closer and closer to the first round.
Source link : https://www.brewhoop.com/2024/6/13/24175752/2024-nba-draft-milwaukee-bucks-prospects-zach-edey-purdue
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Publish date : 2024-06-13 15:05:53
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