Grizzlies prospect profile and fits: Zach Edey

The Memphis Grizzlies found its big man when they selected Zach Edey with the 9th pick. The two-time National Player of the Year is polarizing, but has the tools to be a clean fit in Memphis.

No player challenged my scouting philosophy like Zach Edey, the Memphis Grizzlies’ newest big man.

I won’t list the entire philosophy, but you can find it in my draft guide. I’ll call back to the three questions I point to when evaluating players:

• How likely is it for them to be in a playoff rotation?

• Can their game scale down now that they’re not the guy?

• Is there a pathway to break out? (Something to monitor when building out the lottery.)

Edey is an outlier with these questions.

When it comes to answering whether he can be in a playoff rotation, his archetype is utilized against him. He’s in this unique in-between. The only modern players with his size are novelties like Boban Marjonovic and Tacko Fall, but his production is superior. Push the years back, and his physical traits and production match all-time talents like Shaquille O’Neal, Bill Watson, Ralph Sampson, and Yao Ming.

When assessing his scalability, his skillset clouds it. Initially, I questioned how he translates to the NBA without getting fed tons of post-up’s, receiving a generational whistle, and the “defensive 3 second rule.” He had roughly 540 post-up possessions in 39 non-exhibition games, per Synergy Sports. For context, Nikola Jokic posted up 482 times in 89 games during his championship run. This past year, he shot 436 free throw attempts, the second-highest mark for a single season in NCAA history. The lack of a “defensive 3 second” rule served as a basis to be a bit conservative, yet impactful, defensively.

These elements are tied into the question about a pathway to break out. He’s an anomaly of a player that has experienced an astonishing developmental trajectory — growing from a prospect that didn’t start playing organized basketball until 6 years ago, to a player that utterly dominated college basketball.

Over time, when assessing these questions and the film, I bought more and more into Zach Edey’s NBA fit. He was an easy first-round player, as he has elite skills (play-finishing and rebounding) and will get second-contract (and beyond) opportunities. Then, I heard comparisons of a bigger version of Ivica Zubac, Jonas Valanciunas, or Steven Adams and thought to myself…

Wait, a bigger version of productive, decade-long starting centers? That’s a definite lottery pick in most drafts, and a player that pans out as a starter for quite a long time.

His screening and rebounding answered questions of scalability and playoff viability in the midst of his collegiate dominance.

Edey’s developmental trajectory served as evidence for a potential breakout. However, this specific line from Zach Kleiman on Edey’s playoff viability is the overarching point when it comes to Edey’s breakout possibility:

Zach is incredible unique in that… you got to deal with him.

With the draft and player evaluation, fit is the biggest key. Zach Edey found the golden fit with the Memphis Grizzlies — a winning infrastructure that can ease his NBA transition that tailors his skillset, and a team with gaps his strengths ultimately fill.

Scouting Report

Looking at the Film

Zach Edey is a dominant post presence. He’s exceptional at sealing and establishing post position, giving his teammates a clear target for entry passes. He has the size advantage, sometimes substantially, every single time. He loves jump hooks and drop steps. He generates separation with his force backing down on opponents and with shoulder turns. While he won’t see this frequency of post-up’s in the NBA, letting him work on the low block will be an easy release valve for half-court offense.

Obviously, with his shot volume and defensive attention, not all post-up’s will be pretty. Even with his dominance down low, his moves and footwork are simplistic. He sought the deep hooks even without great positioning. He was insistent on going up despite the crowds defenses would throw at him — getting off the ball would create advantages in those instances. It’s not alarming, rather it just came with his territory.

I must say, his post game would be insane if he developed any sort of turnaround.

The adamance in the post in the middle of defensive pressure can lead to turnovers — usually with losing the ball or with spotty footwork.

Edey isn’t a Jokic-esque passer, but he’s a smart passer that often looks for open shooters around the perimeter when two or three are coming at him. With proper spacing, he also locates cutters well.

Edey may not go to the free throw line at a historic rate in the NBA. However, with his size, he’s going to draw fouls, because the only way to slow him down is to be physical with him. He has a good sense of when to go up in the midst of contact to generate free throw attempts. The biggest key with Edey’s foul drawing, he’s not a hacking target late in games, as he shot 70.6 percent from the line in his collegiate career.

Edey is an absolute unit on the glass, as he absorbs rebounds. He ensures the possession advantage with his offensive rebounding — ranking 4th all-time in career offensive rebounds. Not only is it leveraged for putbacks and free throw attempts, but he surveys the floor to find shooters. Desmond Bane and (hopefully) Luke Kennard should feast from downtown in these sequences.

Edey walks into the league as one of the NBA’s best screen-setters. His screening is a form of space creation, as Zach Kleiman pointed out in his post-draft media availability. Perimeter players get clean looks at all 3 levels with his screens. His technique is sharp — re-screening (the Varejao screen), Gortat seals. With his post volume going down, his prowess as a screener should be amplified, especially next to an All-NBA point guard like Ja Morant.

He’s an elite finisher that’s an automatic bucket when rolling to the basket — shooting 82.2% (45 attempts) as a PNR roll man and 88.9% as a cutter (36 attempts), per Synergy Sports. With his size and his 9’7” standing reach, he’s a phenomenal target for his guards when charging towards the basket.

Edey’s screening is not the only form of space creation in pick-and-roll. His roll gravity opens up more looks with the offense. Defenses have to pick their poison: prevent Edey from getting a clean look down to the basket, defend the guard downhill, or leave shooters. Whether it’s in the pick-and-roll or off handoffs, Edey generates so much attention when rolling towards the basket. It can open looks for the ball-handler. However, it also opens up 3-point looks when defenses tag Edey rolling.

It’s a dynamic that can amplify a half-court offense.

Edey’s block numbers suffered, because he was told he couldn’t foul out. In the process, opponents got off with easier looks to the basket. In an environment where he can be more aggressive going for blocks, I’m intrigued to see if there’s a level of potency to be unlocked defensively.

Even with having to be more conservative going for blocks, Edey still averaged 2 blocks per game. Blending aggression with his size and length lay the foundation for potentially elite shot-blocking.

Rim protection isn’t about just blocking shots. Edey alters and deters shot attempts near the paint. His technique is sound. He maintains good positioning, physicality, and verticality to influence shot attempts while not fouling.

The biggest element people will monitor with Edey’s NBA transition is how he fares in ball screen coverages. He’s not quick enough to recover, leaving him vulnerable with some rollers and poppers. Within drop coverage, teams look for mid-range jumpers. UConn found success with Samson Johnson as the roller, because — even with his size — Edey couldn’t match up that well with his athleticism in the pick-and-roll.

It seems like people consider drop coverage a sign for bad defense. If a player is great in drop coverage, it’s easy to build a formidable defense around him. He comes up high enough to the level to contain ball-handlers, while his teammate recovers from the screen. His presence in drop coverage could yield to bad shot attempts, and his length shuts off potential entry passes to rollers.

In conjunction with his shot-blocking, I’m intrigued with his ball-screen defense — primarily in drop — when he can afford to be a bit more aggressive.

Edey’s defense in space will be another trend people monitor when he goes to the league. As the case with most 7’5”, 300-pound big men, he will have moments where he loses the matchup in space — whether it’s a guard or wing gaining a step on him, or a big venturing to the perimeter.

While he may have some trouble defending in space, Edey isn’t a stiff. He possesses good mobility, especially for his size, and coupling it with his risk-adverse approach allow him to contain opponents downhill.

While Zach Edey won’t be the focal point of the offense with Memphis, he has the requisite skillset to thrive as a complementary two-way big man that sets a tone with his force and physicality.

Fit with Grizzlies

Zach Edey’s fit with the Memphis Grizzlies is quite clear. His strengths become amplified next to his teammates, and his weaknesses can be alleviated as well.

Edey opens up the “big” optionality alongside Jaren Jackson Jr. Jackson can return to being a rim-roamer at the 4, which presents so many challenges for the opposing offense. Edey will already be a formidable form of rim protection anchoring the paint, but if he gets beat, Jackson is there flying into the mix to alter or block shots. It will likely take a bit for Edey to learn the intricacies of anchoring a NBA defense, but he has a former Defensive Player of the Year big man to lean on and clean up the defense when needed. While Jackson may mask any of Edey’s defensive flaws, the rookie man will provide much-needed help on the boards.

Back to optionality, the Grizzlies have different combinations at their disposal. Jackson and Edey will be its biggest option. Jackson and Clarke will remain a staple. Jackson and Aldama will be its 5-out, “dribble-pass-shoot” option. Edey probably won’t share minutes with Clarke, but he could hold down a frontcourt alongside Aldama or GG Jackson.

There will be some matchups where Edey will thrive, and some where he will struggle. That’s why you have optionality. Nonetheless, the vision with Edey is that he’s a guy teams have to adjust to, while maintaining the advantage within these combinations.

The pick-and-roll dynamic between Ja Morant and Zach Edey will be fascinating and fun to watch. Between Jonas Valanciunas, Steven Adams, and Brandon Clarke, Morant has always had great pick-and-roll partners. Like Adams and Valanciunas, Edey should create space for driving lanes for Morant to get downhill. However, Morant hasn’t had a pick-and-roll partner with Edey’s unique combination of size and play-finishing. Edey could benefit so much working as a scoring threat off Morant’s playmaking — whether it’s off dump-off’s or lobs.

It won’t catch as many eyes, but his two-man game with Desmond Bane is one to watch — especially with how well the star shooting guard works off handoff’s and screens, and with his evolving offensive game. Bringing Edey up in high ball screens could generate clean looks for Bane to step into 3’s or generate momentum downhill.

From an individual standpoint, Edey fills gaps missed from this roster after Adams’ injury. The Grizzlies previously had advantages scoring in the paint, rebounding, and securing extra possessions. Edey’s strengths could reintroduce those points of emphasis back into the Grizzlies’ system.

Finally, the draft is dictated by fit. There are few exceptions that transcend fit, as their talent shines regardless of the situation. More often than not, fit can make or break a prospect. And within that reality, some players can breakthrough because of their environment.

With the Memphis Grizzlies, Zach Edey arrives into a situation with an elite playmaking point guard, a potent secondary creator, and a transcendent defensive big man — possessing zero pressure of being “the guy.” In the process, his strengths should shine bright for a team looking to re-establish itself with force among the league’s elite.

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