'If Zach Edey Is Not Like A Lottery Pick And A Tremendous NBA Player, Then There's Something Wrong With The NBA' - Dan Hurley

Those are some strong words from Hurley. There's no debating the fact that Edey has been utterly dominant in the tournament, with averages of 30.0 points, 16.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.8 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game. He has led the Boilermakers to the Final Four and they're now just two wins away from winning the national championship.

With that being said, I am not sure I would say there is something wrong with the NBA if Edey is not a lottery pick and doesn't have a great career. We have seen a fair few college stars over the years not make it big in the NBA, and there is a reason why Edey is viewed as someone who would join that list.

The game has evolved to the point where bigs need to be able to defend on the perimeter on switches and high pick and rolls, something that the 7'4" Edey can't really do all that well. He is not very athletic and would get targeted on a nightly basis by the many talented guards in the league.

NBA teams also prefer having bigs who can shoot from beyond the arc, something Edey hasn't shown he can do. Hurley believes he will increase his range when he gets to the league, but there is no guarantee that he will.

As things stand, I would say Edey can be a decent backup big man in the NBA. He is a good rebounder and can protect the rim, but his deficiencies will ensure he will never quite be a tremendous player in the league.

Hurley is not alone, though, in thinking that Edey should be a lottery pick. ESPN had the Canadian being selected with the 14th pick of the 2024 NBA Draft by the New Orleans Pelicans in their mock draft. With how well he has been playing at the tournament, his stock has certainly risen in the minds of some.

On the other hand, though, an NBA scout thinks Edey would be Boban Marjanovic in the NBA. The individual doesn't believe he will even be good enough to be a backup every night in the league and it is incredible how opinions of Edey range from one extreme to another.