The Memphis Grizzlies chosen Purdue middle Zach Edey No. 9 total within the first spherical of the 2024 NBA Draft, drawing an audible gasp from the gang at Barclays Heart.
A back-to-back Naismith Participant of the Yr, Edey was doubtless going to listen to his title known as on Wednesday. However consensus had him being drafted a lot later, with most mock drafts having him going exterior the highest 15.
However, the Grizzlies went towards the grain. Nonetheless, whereas there are doubts about how Edey’s recreation will translate to the NBA, it would appear to be an excellent transfer sooner or later.
Standing at 7-foot-4 inches and 285 kilos, with the fluidity of somebody a lot smaller, Edey is not like anybody on the draft board this yr. His dimension and physicality make him a lob menace and, clearly, a terror on the boards.
Throughout his senior yr at Purdue, Edey averaged 12.2 rebounds per recreation. Likewise, he was a deterrent on the basket, averaging 2.2 blocks in 2023-2024.
In the meantime, Edey has additionally confirmed to be an offensive menace, posting 25.2 factors whereas taking pictures 62 % from the sphere final season. Moreover, with high-level display screen capacity, he may very well be an excellent match to play the Steven Adams position for the Grizzlies, opening up lanes for Ja Morant and the corporate.
Bob Myers of ESPN was among the many majority surprised by the decide, however he believes the Edey/Adams comparisons are on the mark. He additionally thinks it should finish the Jaren Jackson experiment at middle.
“Jaren Jackson wants a 5—he missed Steven Adams fairly a bit,” Myers mentioned. “I feel what Memphis is saying is, ‘That is our subsequent Steven Adams, ‘ and I feel that is okay, that is nice.”
