Yeah, there's that, but part of the issue is there is A LOT of precedent for players like Edey having success in the modern NBA. I just rattled off a dozen or so of them. Everyone acts like every team these days is the Warriors when the Warriors are more of the exception. Most teams have a guy 6-10 to 7-1 who either can't guard on the perimeter or isn't an offensive threat on the perimeter or both. Zubac has scored at least 14 in 5 of the last 6 games vs. the Blazers. He's had double-doubles in 4 of the last 7 and only has played 30 minutes in 2 of those games. He's shooting like 70% in those games. If we didn't have a big to match him, he'd kill us, and every fan here would be torching Cronin for not having a big to oppose him. He's posted a 125 or better offensive rating in 5 straight years. He's been over 130 3 of the last 5. His defensive rating is usually between 110-112, and yet his overall rating differential is around +10 to +20. If the NBA really had no place for "slow" bigs, players like him would be extinct. But they aren't. And even those we tend to forget are thriving.
Some refreshing Zachsanity... Dismissing Edey because he can't guard perimeter shots is like dismissing a guard soley because they can't defend the paint.
The thing I see is Edey can guard a big like Wemby. He is fast enough to keep up with him and big enough to alter his shots. The next question is can Wemby guard Edey? Yes he can probably give him some trouble as well. Ultimately I think around the rim Edey can beat Wemby but obviously Wemby has a much better outside shot. Wemby however is not all that fast either and this might be a great matchup. Another thing I think people are missing is that Ayton is still the starter. We are talking a backup big here. This team had Eubanks as their backup. Think about that.
I am secretly in the closet wanting both also! Williams can't be counted on and Ayton is not guaranteed to be here long term!
I say Edey goes at #14... to the Knicks. And we get their two picks in the 20s to take players like Scheierman/Klintman/Djurisic/Missi/Dunn.
Edey isn't any more slow-footed than Jokic, Zubac, Nurk, or Clingan are. Every single one of these players get targeted. I don't see why it's an issue for Edey, but not others
I don't get it either. And Edey has much better size than those. He also seems to have a decent shot, they out wasn't really used in college. It somehow got out into the ether that big men suck unless they can sprint like a guard.
Klintman and Scheierman would be interesting. But we're already facing a roster crunch. Not sure if we want to exacerbate that.
True enough. And maybe a roster cut deadline would be sufficient to actually motivate Cronin to make a trade...
I listened to the BS the past four college seasons regarding Edey. Then, last season Clingan wins a title as a freshman and is anointed the next “it” big man. Then in this past title game Edey actually ate Clingan’s lunch and I listened to how Edey is just so much slower than Clingan. Then Edey went to the combine and literally out performed Clingan in everything. Speed, agility, height, reach and wing span. That is when I looked at the other bigs in the NBA and rosters are littered with bigs that are “slow.” Then I’m thinking about how the NBA has the refs letting some of the grabbing and pushing go because the game scores are too high. When that happens, bigs become relevant again. After his combine I came on here and said he is a lotto pick. Now I’m not advocating at 7 as Portland has. Bigger need at forward. But that player, whoever it may be might never have the career of Edey. We know Edey can put the ball in the hoop, rebound and set screens. Meanwhile we are all pondering what exactly players like Williams, Salaun Holland and Buzellis can do.
Clingan's job is not to defend one on one against players like Edey - his job is to defend against entire teams, and he does that. People say the same shit when Jokic gets 40 on Rody Gobert - "so much for Gobert's defense!" Duh - I watched Kenny Lofton Jr. hit layup after layup on Wemby in the U-19 Worlds finals, but that doesn't mean jack. The combine means literally nothing. Gobert fell because he was slow and lumbering in the combine. Meanwhile Jordan Farmar is supposed to be great because he had a 40 inch vertical or whatever. I say again: the combine means nothing.
I would say the combine is their job interview and means a thing or two. Eddy showed he was serious and prepared. Clingan came across as possibly lazy, entitled as well as slower and less agile than Edey. I would question a players work ethic and commitment when they blow an interview so badly. Meanwhile, when a player the size of Edey blows up like he did, I’m taking one or two long hard looks at him. Just a difference of opinion here.
