The Case for Zach Edey Pick @4 or @8

[C-Dub]

When Wemby is subbed out the game, the Spurs defense falls off of the cliff. That's detrimental to the success of the team. That has to matter and be addressed asap because Wemby will get worn down over time having to cover up other players mishaps on the defensive end. I believe that it's wise to select Edey, even if it's with the 8th pick and select either Castle, Dillingham, or Shepard with the 4th pick.

[Eaglenole2002]

I would throw my remote through the TV if we took Edey at 8.

[SpursBills]

When Wemby is subbed out the game, the Spurs defense falls off of the cliff. That's detrimental to the success of the team. That has to matter and be addressed asap because Wemby will get worn down over time having to cover up other players mishaps on the defensive end. I believe that it's wise to select Edey, even if it's with the 8th pick and select either Castle, Dillingham, or Shepard with the 4th pick.

I don't know man, I think Edey is one of the safest bets in this class to be a good player and would kill in OKC, Boston, or Miami, but I don't know if you want to draft him 8 to be your backup big. I wouldn't melt down if that happened or anything, but there's quite a few guys I think I'd prefer. If you're trying to play him and Wemby together it plays right into the opposition's hands because Wemby absolutely roasts other bigs right now but has some trouble with strong wings, but with Edey in you're basically giving the other team an excuse to put a wing on Wemby. If you really want to improve defense when Wemby goes out, go out there and sign Bitadze for like 6 million a year or something and have him anchor your defense, he might do just as good if not a better job than Edey.

[Chomag]

Depending who is still available at @8 I wouldn't be all that upset . There are only a small handful of players in this draft that will become impact full players anyway.

[Knoxxx]

I’m kind of the thinking Clingan at 4 and Edey at 8.

The tri towers, had it ever been attempted?!? Three players over 7-2” barefoot?

[Chinook]

I've been a big proponent of the Spurs making a real investment in a backup center. A dominant five-man could definitely get 22-28 MPG. If the Spurs think Edey is going to translate, I'd have zero issue with taking him at 8 and only a bit of apprehension about them taking him at 4. As I've said before, if Edey is a dominant player who just isn't going to be able to be his best playing behind or next to Wemby, then the Spurs can use him as the centerpiece in a big deal. Building trade assets is a legitimate part of the path to contention, and getting prospects to trade that doesn't cost the Spurs their seed corn is the best way to avoid taking a step back after a major acquisition. It doesn't make sense to cleave to ideas about how the Spurs operated 25 years ago. This is not the 90s, and the Spurs have given plenty of indications that they don't intend to build like it is.

[eDizzle20]

Wemby and Edey…that would be a sight. Edey was so dominant and skilled in college. Very few could guard him in the low post. Wouldn’t mind at 8 at all.

[Snaq O'Meal]

I’m kind of the thinking Clingan at 4 and Edey at 8.

The tri towers, had it ever been attempted?!? Three players over 7-2” barefoot?

The Spurs had a tri tower line-up of Robinson, Duncan and Will Purdue on the court at the same time.

[BatManu20]

I’m kind of the thinking Clingan at 4 and Edey at 8.

The tri towers, had it ever been attempted?!? Three players over 7-2” barefoot?

Why stop there? Let's trade for Boban while we're at it and create the QUAD-TOWERS.

[Big Empty]

Imagine the Spurs getting Edey to drop his weight down to the 250/270 range. The guy would be able to move quicker & jump higher, and he already bested Cling in the championship and in the combine. Noone would be able to fk with our front court. 5 more rings for sure over the next 13 years

[SpursBills]

If I were the Wizards GM and Sarr went #1 as expected I would try and trade #2 overall to Portland for 7 and 14, then swing on Topic and Zach Edey. I mean it, your franchise is going nowhere fast, I don't really see Risacher being all that likely to be better than Bilal or Deni, and even if he is, it probably won't be by that much. Why not swing for 2 of the biggest upside picks in the draft? Topic's stock is at an all-time low given his injury so he can almost definitely be had at 7, he's still 18 years old putting up the highest rim % and rim volume in ABA with ++playmaking and one of the few guys in the draft capable of being an engine.

Edey might be Boban, but nobody knows what his impact is going to be until he gets to the league. He's the best post scorer of the last 25 years (no hyperbole), shoots 80% at the rim while getting double and triple teamed constantly, and is probably the best offensive rebounder in the last 25 years. Deanondraft looked at his freshman-jr year stats and found he scores more points more efficiently, rebounds better, and has higher assists than Shaq's sop re-jr years, except he can actually shoot FTs. Maybe he gets constantly cooked on a switch against better guards but who cares, he's going to cook anybody under 7 feet in single coverage in the post. If he's shooting 60+% in single coverage and can actually hold up in a drop, you're either tilting the math your way or forcing the other team to play a big unskilled center just to match up, which works to your advantage anyway. Definitely worth swinging if you might be getting Walmart-Shaq level production in the paint on offense, especially with 2 wings like Bilal and Deni who are big with length to help on defense.

And if neither of those swings works out, who cares? You're missing out on...drafting "taller Danny green"? Your franchise is ed without some creative thinking anyway, you're right back to tanking in 2025. Might as well try for some prospects with actual upside and if there was any draft to swing on weird players that didn't fit the ideal archetype, it's this one.

[Knoxxx]

If I were the Wizards GM and Sarr went #1 as expected I would try and trade #2 overall to Portland for 7 and 14, then swing on Topic and Zach Edey. I mean it, your franchise is going nowhere fast, I don't really see Risacher being all that likely to be better than Bilal or Deni, and even if he is, it probably won't be by that much. Why not swing for 2 of the biggest upside picks in the draft? Topic's stock is at an all-time low given his injury so he can almost definitely be had at 7, he's still 18 years old putting up the highest rim % and rim volume in ABA with ++playmaking and one of the few guys in the draft capable of being an engine.

Edey might be Boban, but nobody knows what his impact is going to be until he gets to the league. He's the best post scorer of the last 25 years (no hyperbole), shoots 80% at the rim while getting double and triple teamed constantly, and is probably the best offensive rebounder in the last 25 years. Deanondraft looked at his freshman-jr year stats and found he scores more points more efficiently, rebounds better, and has higher assists than Shaq's sop re-jr years, except he can actually shoot FTs. Maybe he gets constantly cooked on a switch against better guards but who cares, he's going to cook anybody under 7 feet in single coverage in the post. If he's shooting 60+% in single coverage and can actually hold up in a drop, you're either tilting the math your way or forcing the other team to play a big unskilled center just to match up, which works to your advantage anyway. Definitely worth swinging if you might be getting Walmart-Shaq level production in the paint on offense, especially with 2 wings like Bilal and Deni who are big with length to help on defense.

And if neither of those swings works out, who cares? You're missing out on...drafting "taller Danny green"? Your franchise is ed without some creative thinking anyway, you're right back to tanking in 2025. Might as well try for some prospects with actual upside and if there was any draft to swing on weird players that didn't fit the ideal archetype, it's this one.

No, Edey to Spurs!!!

[spurraider21]

I've been a big proponent of the Spurs making a real investment in a backup center. A dominant five-man could definitely get 22-28 MPG. If the Spurs think Edey is going to translate, I'd have zero issue with taking him at 8 and only a bit of apprehension about them taking him at 4. As I've said before, if Edey is a dominant player who just isn't going to be able to be his best playing behind or next to Wemby, then the Spurs can use him as the centerpiece in a big deal. Building trade assets is a legitimate part of the path to contention, and getting prospects to trade that doesn't cost the Spurs their seed corn is the best way to avoid taking a step back after a major acquisition. It doesn't make sense to cleave to ideas about how the Spurs operated 25 years ago. This is not the 90s, and the Spurs have given plenty of indications that they don't intend to build like it is.

ive warmed quite a bit to clingan at 8, tho i wonder if a lot of that is due to the expectation that 8 would otherwise be salaun

[spursparker9]

This guy would be number 1 pick in the 90s and 00s

[jjspur]

Zach Edey is a decent player. He will get drafted and he will eventually play. When he has one of his monster games (and you know he will), a lot of GM's will be kicking themselves for not drafting him. Its really hard to justify taking him early, but you just know he will improve your team somehow.

[The Truth #6]

Drafting Dillingham and Edey would be hilarious and could actually help win games. Not overworking Victor long-term makes sense. Could be an interesting gear shift. Could fail spectacularly but so could lots of players.

[shaq_h8ter]

Imagine the Spurs getting Edey to drop his weight down to the 250/270 range. The guy would be able to move quicker & jump higher, and he already bested Cling in the championship and in the combine. Noone would be able to fk with our front court. 5 more rings for sure over the next 13 years

That is the thing, Edey is at a healthy weight.
Losing any appreciable weight would not be good for him, he has 299lbs of Muscle and Bones.
The dude is just as huge as F!

[HankChinaski]

If people want Edey on the spurs, Spurs should trade back or trade assets for a later first round pick in the draft.

I wouldn't use the 4th or 8th pick on just Edey.

Edey is intriguing but not started next to Wemby but if you are looking for a your first big off the bench or times when Wemby is out for a small injury from tweaking an ankle, rest, foul trouble having someone like Edey step in to the starting lineup or first big off the bench might be a good pick up. Just not with the 4th or 8th.

[tonight...you]

If people want Edey on the spurs, Spurs should trade back or trade assets for a later first round pick in the draft.

I wouldn't use the 4th or 8th pick on just Edey.

Edey is intriguing but not started next to Wemby but if you are looking for a your first big off the bench or times when Wemby is out for a small injury from tweaking an ankle, rest, foul trouble having someone like Edey step in to the starting lineup or first big off the bench might be a good pick up. Just not with the 4th or 8th.

Not that I'm advocating for Edey, but he and Wemby could make for some intriguing end-of-game matchups on D when you need a stop whether with the lead, or to get one with proper use of timeouts and player changes from D to O and vice/versa.
Have Edey be the wall at the rim and Wemby be the middle/perimeter roamer making a 2 layer wall.

Could make for some exotic zones, or something. I'm just spitballing here.

[Knoxxx]

Only a scrub poster is not solutioning how to add Edey to the Spurs this draft.

[Knoxxx]

I see that nobody accepted my gauntlet. How about the 4 pick to the Blazers for the 14 and Anfernee Simmons? And of course any other players they want from us within reason. Aka filler.

Then we take Edey at 14 while not worrying about whether they are dumb enough to take Clingan at 4 instead.

If the filler needs to include Keldon Johnson so be it, Knecht is a easy choice at 8 to upgrade at that spot anyway.

[SOMA Spur]

If I were the Wizards GM and Sarr went #1 as expected I would try and trade #2 overall to Portland for 7 and 14, then swing on Topic and Zach Edey. I mean it, your franchise is going nowhere fast, I don't really see Risacher being all that likely to be better than Bilal or Deni, and even if he is, it probably won't be by that much. Why not swing for 2 of the biggest upside picks in the draft? Topic's stock is at an all-time low given his injury so he can almost definitely be had at 7, he's still 18 years old putting up the highest rim % and rim volume in ABA with ++playmaking and one of the few guys in the draft capable of being an engine.

Edey might be Boban, but nobody knows what his impact is going to be until he gets to the league. He's the best post scorer of the last 25 years (no hyperbole), shoots 80% at the rim while getting double and triple teamed constantly, and is probably the best offensive rebounder in the last 25 years. Deanondraft looked at his freshman-jr year stats and found he scores more points more efficiently, rebounds better, and has higher assists than Shaq's sop re-jr years, except he can actually shoot FTs. Maybe he gets constantly cooked on a switch against better guards but who cares, he's going to cook anybody under 7 feet in single coverage in the post. If he's shooting 60+% in single coverage and can actually hold up in a drop, you're either tilting the math your way or forcing the other team to play a big unskilled center just to match up, which works to your advantage anyway. Definitely worth swinging if you might be getting Walmart-Shaq level production in the paint on offense, especially with 2 wings like Bilal and Deni who are big with length to help on defense.

And if neither of those swings works out, who cares? You're missing out on...drafting "taller Danny green"? Your franchise is ed without some creative thinking anyway, you're right back to tanking in 2025. Might as well try for some prospects with actual upside and if there was any draft to swing on weird players that didn't fit the ideal archetype, it's this one.

Been thinking about a Spurs scenario similar to this. Spurs trade #4 for #7 and #14. If the best available at #4 is Castle and the Spurs like Carter just as much or more, time to trade down. Pick up Carter at 7, Buzelis/Knecht at 8 and then at 14 take a swing - and injured Topic, Saluan, Holland if he falls, or in this scenario your backup C in Edey. Then trade your second rounders. Might play out like this:

#1 - Risacher
#2 - Sarr
#3 - Sheppard
#4 - Clingan (Portland)
#5 - Buzelis/Knecht
#6 - Castle
#7 - Carter (Spurs)
#8 - Knecht/Buzelis (Spurs)
#14 Edey (or whatever project the Spurs want to draft...)

Not really loving taking 3 picks in this crap draft, but if it means the Spurs take a gamble at #14 as oppose to #8, sure why not. Okay, there's my Edey scenario, not going to happen but it would be fun rooting for Boban 2.0.

[mo7888]

Been thinking about a Spurs scenario similar to this. Spurs trade #4 for #7 and #14. If the best available at #4 is Castle and the Spurs like Carter just as much or more, time to trade down. Pick up Carter at 7, Buzelis/Knecht at 8 and then at 14 take a swing - and injured Topic, Saluan, Holland if he falls, or in this scenario your backup C in Edey. Then trade your second rounders. Might play out like this:

#1 - Risacher
#2 - Sarr
#3 - Sheppard
#4 - Clingan (Portland)
#5 - Buzelis/Knecht
#6 - Castle
#7 - Carter (Spurs)
#8 - Knecht/Buzelis (Spurs)
#14 Edey (or whatever project the Spurs want to draft...)

Not really loving taking 3 picks in this crap draft, but if it means the Spurs take a gamble at #14 as oppose to #8, sure why not. Okay, there's my Edey scenario, not going to happen but it would be fun rooting for Boban 2.0.

You could probably expand this and trade 7 + Cha to Cha for 6

Draft:
6- Castle
8- Buzelis/ Knecht
14 Edey/Williams/ Furphy/Salaun/Filipowski/ McCain etc

[shaq_h8ter]

Sigh, we could have had Edey at 8 but we traded for nothing but picks in 2030+
Guess we will see how big of a mistake this may have been this year.
Maybe we draft a legit big to back up Wemby in 2025.
At least we got Castle with the 4th pick but felt that might happen as he is very defense first.
Lauri Markkanen is an exciting thought, we'll see what happens in August.

[objective]

Edey would have spent 2 years behind Zollins getting over himself and being fair to the team