Where Will Purdue’s Zach Edey Land in the NBA Draft?
The NCAA Championship took place on Monday night (April 8), and the UConn Huskies beat the Purdue Boilmakers in a 75-60 victory. Now, everyone is curious about where Purdue’s Zach Edey will fall in the NBA Draft. He’s obviously one of the strongest players in college basketball this season. For the casual college hoops fan, it may seem like a no-brainer that he would be one of the first picks. But, it’s more complicated than that, and you might be surprised where he lands in the NBA Draft.
Purdue’s Zach Edey and Where He Might Land in the NBA Draft
Purdue’s Zach Edey is a two-time Naismith National Player of the Year. There’s no question that Purdue wouldn’t have gotten to the national championship game without Edey. However, even with all that college stardom and skill, he’s largely not expected to be picked very early in the NBA Draft. How can that be the case? Well, some NBA scouts believe Edey will have a difficult time making the transition from college hoops to the NBA due to a few factors. However, he’s expected to find a home in the NBA come draft time, just not as a first pick.
Even though Edey is one of the best college players of his era, some NBA scouts aren’t sure how he’ll do in an environment where everybody is bigger. His size, at 7′ 4″, gives him an advantage in college hoops, but it won’t give him as much of an advantage in the NBA. Also, Edey is known for his strong playing down low, but the modern era of the NBA is very focused on three-point shooting. For this reason, Edey is somewhat seen as a retro-style player, instead shining down low on the court. Edey does have a fantastic ability to get points on the board and draw fouls, so that should come in handy in the NBA.
So, where will Purdue’s Zach Edey fall in the NBA Draft? My personal prediction is that he’ll fall somewhere between 20th overall and 30th overall. That’s a broad number, so I’m going with 27th overall. As for some other predictions, CBS Sports has him going 22nd overall to the New Orleans Pelicans; USA Today has him going 26th overall to the Washington Wizards; Bleacher Report has him at 30th overall going to the Boston Celtics; and NBADraft.net has him at 37th overall with the Memphis Grizzlies. No matter where he lands, it will be fun to watch Purdue’s Zach Edey in the NBA.
5 NBA Teams to Watch Right Now
5. Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers are solid this year, but they aren’t one of the best of the best. That said, there’s lots of potential here. Watch these guys closely. It’s so fun to watch Tyrese Maxey, who is a total superstar. He’s been averaging an upwards of 28 points per game lately.
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4. Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves had a big loss to the Bucks following the break, but then, they came back and definitively beat the Nets. The Wolves have been experiencing a few offensive hiccups, but they’re still one of the strongest teams in the league.
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3. Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder crew is on fire. Coming back from break, they totally blew out the Clippers, Wizards and Rockets. Chet Holmgren is a star here, averaging around 24 points a game.
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2. Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are another team that came out of break with fire. These guys have been on a winning streak since the break ended. Nikola Jokic has been especially strong since break, averaging around 27 points per game.
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
1. Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are really the strongest team in the NBA right now. They’re on a winning streak, which is nothing new for them. They have not one but a group of star players in Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Derrick White. It’s hard to see any team topping them.
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