It’s no secret Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks are slowly aging with only a few young players in the lineup. The front office can resolve that predicament by considering Purdue’s Zach Edey for the upcoming 2024 NBA Draft.
Before he started his college stint, Edey was classified as a three-star recruit. After several offers from Baylor and Santa Clara, the 7’4″ big man committed to playing for the Purdue Boilermakers in 2019. From there, he spent four years playing for their program and honing his craft as a center.
During his rookie year, Edey shared the court Trevion Williams as the Boilermakers’ primary centers. He would go on to average 8.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in the 28 games he played that season. Those numbers would explode by the time he reached his final year in Purdue when the big man tallied 25.2 points, 12.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 2.2 blocks on a nightly basis.
As compared to modern big men, Edey built his game more as a traditional center. This is evident in his final NCAA tournament run which resulted in a finals appearance for Purdue. Unfortunately, they fell to the UConn Huskies in the championship round, leaving Edey’s team as the runner-up.
The Main Reason Why Milwaukee Bucks Must Draft Zach Edey
At this point in time, center Brook Lopez is already 35 years old and way past his prime. Having played 16 seasons in the NBA, the Bucks should be looking at a capable big to back him up. Brian Sampson explains why Edey must be considered by Milwaukee in an article for Forbes.
“His size, which is one of his biggest strengths, is part of that reason. At 7-foot-3 and 303 pounds (with a pterodactyl-esque 7-foot-10 wingspan), he moves like he has cylinder blocks on his feet. His inability to defend the perimeter will undoubtedly be challenged at the next level as teams will target him in the pick-and-roll with lightning-quick guards.
He might be worth the roll of the dice, however, as a lottery ticket who can help the Bucks get to the next level. He would instantly become one of the biggest men in the NBA. He has tremendous skill and touch around the basket. He has a high basketball I.Q. He may have the potential to develop an outside shot based. The pros to his game begin to stack up despite his glaring weakness,” Sampson wrote.
As compared to Lopez, Edey doesn’t boast an outside shot and won’t be able to defend players outside the paint. On the other hand, his size makes him an imposing figure who can grab boards and swat shots with ease. This makes Edey a complimentary piece to Lopez from the bench.
Edey’s youth allows him to develop the other parts of his game, most notably shooting from beyond the arc. If he does show that initiative, the Bucks will come out as winners on draft day if ever they select the Purdue star.
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