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The reason: the difference between the Grizzlies’ strong interest in Edey and league-wide skepticism about his potential. Before and after the draft, Edey fielded scrutiny on whether he could excel in the NBA. After dominating at Purdue as a traditional center with post-up presence (18.2 points per game), rebounding (9.6) and rim protection (1.7 blocks), Edey elicited concerns on other issues. Could he thrive in a league that puts higher premium on mobile bigs that can make 3s, space the floor and run fast? The Grizzlies believed so.
Rick Carlisle on Zach Edey: 'History will likely show that where he was chosen in the draft was low'
"History will likely show that where he was chosen in the draft was low," Carlisle said. "He's gonna have impact. He was drafted by an organization that believes in size and they believe in what he accomplished. Two-time national player of the year is a big deal. It's rare that that can even happen in today's world of college basketball. I have great respect for what he accomplished at Purdue and a lot of respect for what he did tonight because he put a will and a physicality into the game that we simply did not match."
Edey impressed during the college season because he lost a bunch of weight and gained mobility he didn’t show in his underclassmen years at Purdue. At the NBA Draft Combine and in pre-draft workouts, he reportedly shot the ball well in several spots. And with the added mobility, and even with the lower weight, he’s still bigger than anyone on the court the majority of the time. “Zach took a lot of the feedback from scouts and answered a lot of questions,” Jazz general manager Justin Zanik told reporters a few weeks ago. “He slimmed down, and he’s figured out how to impact the game in multiple ways.”
“He’s a monster. Purdue figured out a way how to play him and use him. It was kind of like an old-school throwback big,” an NBA scout told Andscape. “Wait for him to get down the floor, throw the ball into him and give him an opportunity. If he had to repost, give it back to him. They fed him. Used him. They had a plan for him. He repaid it by being super-productive scoring, in the post, nice touch. He rebounds everything. “Whoever takes him, you just got to know what you’re going to do with him. You don’t take him to take him because he was the player of the year and he’s so big. Figure out how to utilize him.”
Among the prospects who have either already worked out or are scheduled to work out for the Heat in Miami are Providence guard Devin Carter, Purdue center Zach Edey, G League Ignite forward Ron Holland, Indiana center Kel’el Ware, Southern Cal guard Isaiah Collier, Arizona forward Keshad Johnson and UConn guard Tristen Newton, according to league sources. Carter, Edey, Holland, Ware and Collier are among the potential first-round options for the Heat at pick No. 15, and Johnson and Newton are among the potential second-round options for the Heat at pick No. 43
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Cody Taylor: The Magic held a predraft workout yesterday that included the following prospects: 🏀Lance Jones, Purdue, 🏀Judah Mintz, Syracuse, 🏀Cormac Ryan, North Carolina
“I think if Danny Hurley got into the NBA, there’s on doubt he can coach. You watch their team play. People talk about their offense, to me I was more impressed with how they defended all over the place. It was really fun to watch that finals game against Purdue and their defensive game plan. “I have no doubt that Danny Hurley could step into the NBA and find a way to connect to his group and do a good job because Danny is a coach. He’s a teacher of the game, he’s a coach of the game and he’s had a tremendous amount of success.”
“That’s something that you work on,” Edey said. “You do drills, you spend your own time on it, but this off-season, I really attacked it. At Purdue I was a post-up player, it’s not a secret. I like to play in the post, I like to get rebounds. But now that I’m preparing for the draft, I’m really working on extending my range. I’m feeling comfortable out there and comfortable in doing different things.”
Tennessee wing Dalton Knecht might go in the top 10. Providence guard Devin Carter just tagged an impressive junior year with some strong testing at the draft combine. Purdue center Zach Edey is one of the most interesting players in the draft and projected to be a fringe lottery pick. Marquette point guard Tyler Kolek, Colorado forward Tristan da Silva and Creighton wing Baylor Scheierman are all projected first-round picks who could land higher than expected on draft night. That will again bring an important question to the forefront as teams make their decisions: Does age matter in the draft?
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Brandon Scoop B Robinson: New Orleans Pelicans have scheduled a draft workout with Purdue center Zach Edey. The Pelicans have the No. 21 overall pick in next month’s NBA Draft. With multiple reports indicating that Jonas Valanciunas may not return to NOLA because of perceived fit alongside their star player, Zion Williamson, Pels could look to draft the 7’4 300 pound Edey if available.
Two-time Naismith Player of the Year Award winner Zach Edey declares for draft
Purdue center Zach Edey submitted paperwork to enter the 2024 NBA Draft, according to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.
Jon Rothstein: Matt Painter tells me that this will be Zach Edey's final season at Purdue and he will not use his COVID year in 2024-25. Averages 23.7 PPG and 11.8 RPG. Will be the first player to win National Player of the Year honors in back-to-back seasons since Ralph Sampson.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Tuesday afternoon that A.J. Hammons’ home in the 9000 block of Fall Creek Road will be up for sale later this year. Hammons, a 7-foot former Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year who spent 4 years at Purdue before being drafted by the Dallas Mavericks, has faced criticism from neighbors in the Geist area for hosting loud, raucous and sometimes violent parties at the Fall Creek home.
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