How Zach Edey’s draft stock relies on production of current NBA centers

The best college basketball player this season, and last, is Purdue center Zach Edey. The 7-foot-4 Canadian big man returned as the reigning National Player of the Year after a 2022-23 breakout.

However, part of the reason for his college return was an apparent lack of interest from NBA teams. Traditional centers who operate around the rim with footwork and positioning are a rare breed in the professional ranks where positional versatility and floor spacing have become paramount.

But according to ESPN’s NBA Draft analyst Jonathan Givony, Zach Edey’s stock has risen into the first round as a potential lottery pick. How could that be?

Zach Edey’s path to NBA success

As Givony points out, Edey has shown improvement in key areas a big man must perform to reach the floor consistently at the next level. His conditioning and mobility make the jump possible.

“He has shown better versatility blocking shots and stepping outside the paint defensively, while dunking and drawing fouls in bunches,” Givony wrote.

Edey is averaging 23.1 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks this season with a 37.5 Player Efficiency Rating (PER). He finished last season averaging 22.3, 12.9, and 2.1 with a 40.2 PER.

In a relatively weak draft class in terms of top-end talent, teams who view him as a potential rotation player could look to get their man. And those who view him as a long-term fit in the starting lineup could even jump in line.

Reason For draft board rise

While improved conditioning and mobility are no doubt major factors in how teams view Edey, his productivity this season is not entirely different from last season. So what is creating the drastic change in interest from NBA teams?

To find the answer, look no further than the NBA standings.

The Minnesota Timberwolves finished last season with a first-round playoff exit against the Denver Nuggets. There appeared to be a disconnect within the roster, particularly around star center Rudy Gobert.

The team had just made a blockbuster trade which sent five first round picks and five players to the Utah Jazz in order to build a super-sized lineup beside modern-day big man Karl-Anthony Towns.

Minnesota hoped to do the same thing Cleveland did for Evan Mobley, Memphis did for Jaren Jackson Jr. and others have tried by pairing a solid defensive center who can gather offensive rebounds and covert in the pick-and-roll with a versatile 7-footer who can stretch the floor and gather blocks once freed from the bruising load under the basket.

Now, the Timberwolves are No. 1 in the Western Conference at 24-8. They look the part of an NBA title contender with Gobert and Towns fitting together as well as anyone could imagine.

Gobert is currently averaging 12.8 and 12.1 with an 18.1 PER, while Towns is averaging 21.4 and 9.2 with an 18.5 PER.

The creation of a dynamic duo is sure to trigger the “copycat league” discussions.

Conclusion on Zach Edey

The book on Zach Edey’s NBA potential is far from finished. He has an entire Big Ten schedule to go through, proving he can showcase his conditioning from start to finish. Purdue will also need to right the ship on an embarrassing 2023 NCAA Tournament exit.

Edey has a path to become a bigger, taller version of NBA stalwarts Rudy Gobert, Steven Adams, Walker Kessler and Jarrett Allen, but only if he continues to grow in areas other than height.

His ability to move in drop-zone coverage on defense and to score as the finisher in pick-and-rolls will determine how high he moves up the board, along with the growth of other prospects.

Look for teams with a modern-day big to target Edey to run more super-sized lineups, which free the other big to roam free.

Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama and second-year rookie Chet Holmgren both stand out as potential benefactors.