Miami Heat draft pick talk heats up, with former Purdue center Zach Edey back in the conversation, and the 2024 NBA Draft is less than a week away.
Former two-time NCAA POY player remains in Miami Heat draft scenarios
Discussions on the Heat-Edey project resume
Miami Heat draft rumors have recently focused on Purdue big man Zach Edey. With March Madness in full swing, speculation about Miami and Edey’s 2024 NBA Draft was high. Those rumors have slowly died down as other college players have entered the conversation. In recent weeks, Miami’s links to other draft prospects, primarily at the guard and wing positions, have become daily news when it comes to Miami’s Off-Season Plans.
But as next week’s draft approaches, Edey and the Miami Heat are once again the subject of speculation.
The strong points of Edey College
Zach Edey’s presence at Purdue really started to elevate during the 2022-23 season NCAA college season, which continued last season when the Purdue Boilermakers reached the championship game. Although Purdue lost to the NCAA champions, the University of Connecticut HuskiesEdey still had an exceptional performance. His size and presence in the paint intrigued many players with this game and his future possibilities as an NBA center.
However, there was, and perhaps still is, some hesitation regarding Edey’s ability to transition from college to pro. Standing at 7’4” and 300 pounds, Edey used his size and strength to dominate opponents in the paint. That dominance, along with his rebounding and basket protection, earned him back-to-back NCAA Player of the Year honors. That exact skill level is something the Miami Heat could be coveting in this year’s draft.
How Miami Can Maximize Edey’s Talent
You could say the Heat are already solid at the center position. Bam Adebayo is a 5x All-Defensive center who is coming off one of his most productive seasons offensively in addition to his exceptional defensive play. However, Adebayo is also flexible in the sense that he doesn’t always set up under the basket. A terrific mid-range shooter and floor spacer, Adebayo could benefit from a player like Edey to support him. Having Edey set up under the basket would allow Adebayo to move around more and create more space for Miami’s guards and wings. This has the potential to create more offense for players like Jimmy Butler, Tyler HerroAnd Terry RozierNot to mention that a defensive pairing of Adebayo and Edey would undoubtedly be dominant.
Edey’s transition from college to the pros
How Edey’s college game and skills will translate to the NBA is a topic of debate. One element that works against him is his pace and lack of speed. Edey’s numbers and presence in the paint were mostly unmatched during Purdue’s March Madness run. However, it was evident that Edey moved much slower and had limited movement when he was in position near the basket.
If there is one element of the NBA game that we know today, it is the fast pace that seems to accelerate with each passing season. Today, many teams make a point of getting a good shot and scoring the basket before the clock hits the halfway mark. Edey will have to adapt to the fast and sporadic pace of the NBA game in some way. His size mimics that of a more traditional, old-school center from the 80s and 90s. Edey knows that he will have to work on his game and develop his skill level to compete with his NBA opponents.
“What you win in college and what you win in the NBA is totally different,” Edey said in May at the NBA Draft Combine. “There’s a lot of things I can do that people haven’t seen yet. I was focused on how it would impact winning at Purdue and simplifying my game. Every year I’ve made progress and there’s no reason why I can’t continue to get better.”
Edey’s selection could boost Heat’s chances next season
If the Miami Heat draft ends with Zach Edey as the coach, let’s let the Heat’s developmental maestro take the reins from there. Edey could be the centerpiece to maximize Bam Adebayo and create one of the NBA’s most formidable defensive tandems.
