On Tuesday, Purdue Boilermakers center Zach Edey declared for the 2024 NBA Draft. The two-time National College Player of the Year is simultaneously one of the draft's most intriguing prospects and biggest projects.
His 7-foot-4 center has a playstyle that many believe won’t translate to the NBA, so he has a wide range of outcomes entering the pre-draft process. Some outlets project he'll be a late-lottery pick, while others place the Canadian big man in the second round. Lately, more mock drafts have him climbing into the first round due to his strong play in the NCAA Tournament, leading the Boilermakers to the national championship game.
"I felt like it was time," Edey said about entering the draft. "I showed that I'm a physical presence on offense this season. I also showed I can play defense. I can guard in space, even defend guards."
At Purdue, Edey primarily stayed in the paint on both ends of the floor. Making an impact on the offensive end shouldn't be a concern, as he will tower over most defenders (with the exception of Victor Wembanyama and a few others). However, in an era that relies heavily on all five positions stretching the floor, Edey’s shooting struggles could scare off certain organizations. He attempted two 3-pointers in his senior season, where he averaged 25.2 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks on 62.3% shooting from the field. He noted that there are aspects of his game scouts and coaches “haven’t seen yet” because he was focused on impacting winning for the Boilermakers. This is where a strong showing during pre-draft workouts could help his stock ahead of the NBA Draft.
Here’s a look at three of the best potential landing spots for Edey:
Miami Heat
Would Edey fit in with the ‘Heat Culture'? Well, it’s tough to say with the way he dominated at the collegiate level, but their developmental program is top-tier. They are known for maximizing the potential of their draft picks and undrafted free agents, with Duncan Robinson, Haywood Highsmith, Gabe Vincent, Max Strus, and Tyler Herro highlighting the diverse range of prospects who have succeeded thanks to the organization. Since Edey is a project and will need a lot of coaching, landing in Miami might be the best-case scenario for him.
A mock draft in early April from The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor had the Heat selecting Edey with the No. 17 pick. O’Connor’s main reasoning for the pick is pairing the Purdue center with All-Star Bam Adebayo. Learning from one of the league’s top defenders would help him develop rapidly inside and outside the paint. Adebayo was nominated as a finalist for the Defensive Player of the Year award, but will likely come in third place behind Rudy Gobert and Wembanyama.
The Heat ranked No. 5 in defensive rating in the regular season, meaning Edey's lack of mobility wouldn’t come into play as heavily. Rather, he could focus on being an offensive rebounder, finding triumph through putback layups and kickouts for 3-pointers. It's also worth noting that Miami ranked last in the NBA in blocked shots per game (3.4) this season, so Edey could help there as well.
Orlando Magic
Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley dominating their frontcourt in Round 1 of the NBA playoffs is a sign that improvements are needed. Wendell Carter Jr. and Moritz Wagner split the majority of the minutes at the 5, but Jonathan Isaac finds himself filling in at times too. Adding a more physically dominant presence to the core could help stop players like Allen from recording 20 rebounds against them.
However, the front office may not view the center position as their biggest need over another guard. Despite having Cole Anthony, Jalen Suggs, and Anthony Black (all top-15 picks), their backcourt has a glaring lack of scoring.
Edey joining a contending team seems like the more beneficial route for both him and the organization. As an older prospect, he has been built for big moments in his four years with the Boilermakers, putting him in a similar position to that of Heat rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. Jaquez was questioned due to his age but became one of the biggest surprises of the 2023 draft, averaging 11.9 points on 48.9% shooting. However, Edey's unique skill set will likely lead a team to select him higher than expected in hopes that his game will translate to the professional level.
Washington Wizards
For starters, gaining a player of Edey’s stature would greatly help the Wizards, who ranked second to last in rebounds per game in the regular season (41.1). They placed ahead of the Charlotte Hornets by less than a single rebound. Not to mention the lack of difference-makers at the center position, with Marvin Bagley III topping the depth chart followed by Tristan Vukcevic. Bagley averaged 13.3 points and 8.1 rebounds on 58.1% shooting in his 24 appearances with Washington, while Vukcevic averaged 8.5 points in his limited role as a rookie. Even 6-foot-9 forward Kyle Kuzma played meaningful minutes at center earlier in the season.
The Wizards will have a top pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, where they'll likely prefer to select a younger player with more upside than Edey, who turns 22 years old in May. This was their strategy last year, selecting French forward Bilal Coulibaly with the No. 7 pick. His two-way potential and impressive wing size intrigued Washington, although his rookie season didn’t pan out as hoped. He averaged 8.4 points and 4.1 rebounds on 43.5% shooting in 27.2 minutes before a season-ending wrist injury occurred in mid-March. While it seems very unlikely that Washington will select Edey with their own pick, perhaps the Wizards could try to acquire a late first-rounder to take Edey if he's still on the board.
