Jamie Squire/Getty Images
(Purdue: Center, Sr., 7-4)
Previous ranking: 21 (-) / Highest rank: 14 / Lowest rank: NR
The Pelicans have a lot of work ahead of them this offseason, including: Brandon Ingram Finding replacements for trade markets and centers Jonas Valanciunasplayers expected to leave the team in free agency, and other information mentioned in a recent HoopsHype Pelicans podcast episode.
In this comprehensive mock draft update, the Pelicans find a two-time National Player of the Year center. Zach Eddy.
When asked what it would be like to face Eddie in the National Championship, the University of Connecticut projected lottery pick Donovan Clingan When asked what impressed him about Eddie, he recounted the detailed scouting report.
“His size, his strength, his physicality and his scoring ability,” Clingan responded. “He's a great player. Tall and strong. He's hard to move in the post. He rebounds at a high level on both ends. He was really tough to play against. You want to play against the best on the biggest stage, so it was an honor to play against Zach.”
Clingan had a positive scouting report but is trying to clear up any misconceptions about Eddie's game during the pre-draft process.
“When you look at a 7-foot-4, 300-pound guy, you assume he can't move his feet, he can't shoot, he's not mobile, he's prone to injury, but I think there's a lot of things I can do that people don't think about,” Eddy said at the NBA Draft Combine. “I think I can move my feet and shoot. A lot of guys who are 7-foot-4 can't make free throws. I can do that. I can do things that people don't expect.”
One thing Eddie wants to show NBA teams is that he's a better shooter than people realize.
“I think I need to show guys I can make the shots I believe I can make,” Eddy said. “For the most part, I think teams know what I'm good at. They have a ton of film of me. Obviously, I think I'm faster than they think I am. I think I shoot it better than they think I can.”
When asked by HoopsHype where he thinks his current draft range is, Eddie said somewhere between 10th and 25th, which could make sense for the power-hitting center if the pick holds up.
More: Zach Eddy: NBA Draft scouting report and info
