Did the Grizzlies make a mistake choosing Zach Edey 9th overall?

Isis Young, Krysten Peek, Lamar Hurd, and Tom Haberstroh discuss the Memphis Grizzlies' decision to select Zach Edey with the ninth pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Video transcript

Zach Edie, two time national player of the year, all time leading scorer for two men's basketball history goes number nine overall to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Now I have to tell y'all some behind the scenes information.

A little secret when this pick happened live, Lamar got up and stud and he clapped and then looked at KP.

Like now what?

So I'm gonna start with you, Lamar.

What, what's going on here?

We like this pick clearly.

I, since you asked me, I guess I'll answer.

It's just one of those things I envisioned this for Zach Edie.

I saw the frame, I saw the size, I saw the disrespect that is going on in the NBA today where they are putting 6 ft guards on big man and the big man is standing in the corner, not doing nothing, not being a part of the offense that will not happen with Zach Edie and KP.

That's what I was trying to tell you and the Grizzlies know it.

He's gonna set big solid screens for John Morant, roll down the middle and if John's not dunking on somebody, then Edie's gonna have the hands.

You did say he has good hands, right?

You said he has good hands.

You said he can catch, he can finish on him.

You said that's all he's gotta do.

Don't have to put it on the floor.

Don't have to make crazy moves.

He can learn the game and he can play with Jared Jackson junior who can hit shots enough to be respectable, can be fluid, can move all this makes a lot of sense.

Does he have the pace though to play at that style?

KP?

Because I feel like you had an issue with his pace.

Absolutely not.

And let me tell you something.

Every other team picking after nine for taking Zach off the board means that they don't have to be tempted to take him.

I talked to an NBA scout and he said out of my 58 board, Zack is number 58.

This is for him so that his game, I hope he does.

I don't know why I do not know why you are investing a top 10 pick with.

What else is on the board?

On Zach, a backup center, someone who's going to be a defensive liability.

Yes, I he's gonna set bruising screens for John Moran.

Yeah, but I'm fired up.

But what is his role rate?

He makes 8% of his shots off pick and roll.

Is he gonna be able to just stand, stand in the lane and with his back to the basket and post up like he Shaq Hakeem.

Like none of this makes sense to me.

I understand getting another center in the front court alongside Jared Jackson.

So he can be more of a floor spacer, but he's not gonna be on the court.

That's much.

And when you're leaving Cody Williams on the board, you're leaving Tristan da Silva Devin Carter, all of these players that have like way more upside than Zach Edie.

None of this makes sense.

I am completely baffled.

And if I am wrong, if I'm wrong, I will take the out, but he is not gonna translate.

He is a poor man's boon.

Would you consider Steven Adams as somebody that plays really fast?

Ok, you're gonna give me one that is all you need.

All of Stephen Adams, you can guard Donovan Clinton.

You, you guys can guard Heather.

That's only one team.

You're gonna tell me in the Eastern conference, what he's gonna do in a, in a, against a team that just won in the Western conference.

I'm saying because Steven Adams played with Steven Adams played with the Grizzlies.

So before he got traded to Houston, he was with the Grizzlies when they were hooping.

It was with Steven Adams as well down there said, and no screens rolling, the workload is gonna be completely different.

This will be the first time that he has played and he don't have to worry about a double team.

Most likely he doesn't have to worry about possession down.

We need to come to you.

So we need, so you know what, conserve some of that energy at times?

Uh Jarrett Jackson Junior, that's 74 300.

He down there a lot of energy to get in here.

Remember when John Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies were in the playoffs, they needed half court scoring.

They needed someone they could throw the ball to, to get buckets.

It's not all on John Morant and Jaren Jackson junior, they needed another score.

Zach Eddy, he's, he's a different skill set than Stephen Adams, but he's bigger then Steven Adams.

This is an, an incredible jump for Zach Edie from a couple of years ago staying into the, staying into college basketball.

Now he's going to play with John Morant, man.

Great and grind is gonna get interesting.

We're gonna go to a Grizzlies Grizzlies game told me all Zach Edie needed was a point guard that was gonna give him the basketball.

You've got one of the most electric ones in the game right now and John Morant really good pick.

It sounds like for the Grizzlies KP.

Doesn't agree.

It's ok. We know what emoji this is getting