Zach Eady has been the best player in college basketball for the past two seasons, and it was impossible to overlook him in this year's NCAA Tournament, both because of his size and talent. He had 120 points, 65 rebounds and 10 blocked shots in 135 minutes of play, leading Purdue to the Final Four.
Depending on who you ask, Edy could be a lottery pick. Some believe he will definitely succeed in the NBA.
There are very smart basketball people on both sides of this debate. That makes Eadie the most polarizing player in the 2024 draft class.
This is why there are so many unpleasantly divided opinions on Edie.
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Why Zach Eady is a lottery pick
Edy is clearly a massive player. At 7-4 with a 7-10 wingspan, his massive 300-pound frame makes him impossible to stop near the basket.
That helped Edie become a very productive college player. This season, he is averaging 25 points and 12.2 rebounds for Purdue, while shooting an impressive 62.4 percent from the field.
If Edie gets the ball in the post and the team doesn't send in a lot of help, it's game over. He's going to drive to the rim with power and score. This often happens because he is a good screen setter who can roll to the basket and use his strength to shut down almost anyone. He has good touch, especially his right hook shot.
Zach Eady had 30 points, 21 rebounds, three blocks and two assists against Grambling, helping Purdue advance to the NCAA Tournament. Projected to be the No. 15 pick in the draft, he left little doubt about the outcome of this game with his dominant play on both ends of the floor. pic.twitter.com/pnZzFjuZmq
— Jonathan Gibboney (@DraftExpress) March 23, 2024
Eadie becomes an improved passer when teams bring in double teams. He can make basic reads to kick out to 3-point shooters.
Edy is also a great rim protector, averaging 2.2 blocks per game. Purdue primarily uses him on deep drops, similar to how the Bucks use center Brook Lopez. Lopez also struggles with lateral movement, but he capitalized on that role last season, finishing as runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year and being named to two All-Defensive teams.
Eady will have a positive probability of scoring and rebounding if he is drafted. His size will make him an impact player from day one – only Victor Wembaneyama and Boban Marjanovic can match him in the height department. Both posed extreme problems for defenses due to their unique size.
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Why Zach Eady's game isn't getting through to the NBA
Edy's game relies so heavily on post-ups that many feel like it won't translate to the next level. Plays like this don't really exist in his NBA career. Because while they work as a diversion, the NBA is a pick-and-roll league.
Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid lead the league with about six shots off the post per game. These are the exceptions, most others either don't take anything or limit themselves to one or two per night.
There were other great college players in Eady's mold, but they failed to make an impact in the league. Luka Garza and Drew Timme were both the best players in college basketball thanks to their dominant post play. Garza was selected No. 52 in the 2021 NBA Draft, but he has played in just 78 career games. Timmy went undrafted and ultimately signed with the Bucks' G League team. He hasn't played in an NBA game yet.
Eady's offensive game has some weaknesses that NBA teams are exploiting. He's not a shooting threat at all, so defenders will be able to stay in the paint and cramp the driving lanes for his teammates. Although he has put a lot of effort into improving his left hand, he is still very right handed. He's doing the same with his passes, but his processing speed isn't quite at the level he needs to be yet, so he'll need to recognize double teams sooner.
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Edy's big problem is on the defensive end. Like Garza and Timme, Eady doesn't have the foot speed most bigs need to guard the pick-and-roll.
Edy is very effective when he is stationary near the basket. At Purdue, he can stay under the rim as long as he wants, since he didn't have enough 3-second fielding time in the college game.
NBA games are different. Big men have to clear the lane every 3 of his 3s, and NBA players are so good at pulling up his 3s off screens that they defend near his 3-point line much more often. will be higher. Slow centers have essentially become extinct due to how important mobility is to defending these plays.
Slow centers also have trouble transitioning. The NBA game is faster than college, with better athletes constantly applying pressure and trying to score early. Will Edie be able to protect the rim-running big guys who try to outrun him every night? That caused him problems at the college level.
A big player like Boban can score and rebound at an alarming rate, with the 7-4, 290-pound center averaging 22.8 points and 14.8 rebounds per 36 minutes over his nine-year career. It is recorded. However, his stiff hips and slow feet place a heavy burden on him defensively, and he only plays 8.7 minutes per game. Edy faces a similar problem. Having him turn around on defense is like turning a cruise ship.
Despite these weaknesses, there are reports that NBA teams are willing to take a chance on Eadie even in a weak draft. The Athletic's Sam Veceny, one of the most-watched draft evaluators, has consistently said that Eday will likely be. [to] The winner will be selected in the first round other than the lottery. ”
So is Eady a lottery pick or a second-round flyer? His future success will ultimately depend on which team drafts him.
He's not the type of prospect that would be great for any team. If a creative coach can surround him with shooters and defenders who can switch positions and keep him near the paint, he could be on the path to becoming a good NBA player. If those conditions don't exist, he'll still score effectively, but he'll give up more points on the other end and struggle to stay on the floor.
