Zach Edey’s fit with the Chicago Bulls
At the very least, Edey should be a beast around the rim in the NBA, even if it’s in a backup role. His size is going to be hard to deal with in the pick-and-roll and he should provide high-efficiency scoring as a lob threat.
And he has also shown that he can block shots and affect them around the rim at 7-foot-4, another area where the Bulls need a boost.
He creates plenty of gravity in the paint, which would help the Bulls’ shooters as he did for the shooters at Purdue, who were among the country’s leaders in 3-point percentage last season.
It’s wild that a guy like Edey almost certainly would have been an option for the #1 pick 25 years ago, especially in such an uncertain draft.
The game has changed and big centers who can’t move are no longer in vogue, but there’s also the fact that a 7-foot-4 player with skill should work in any era. If Edey improves as a passer and develops a little jumper (he’s 71 percent from the line, so there’s hope), he could end up being one of the best players in this draft even with his limitations.
He’d be a reach with the 11th pick, but if the Bulls were really interested, they may be able to trade back, pick up an asset and still get Edey.
He’s one of the most difficult prospects to judge in some time, one we are either overthinking or who may have no place in the modern NBA.