The Memphis Grizzlies Select Zach Edey with the 9th Pick of the 2024 NBA Draft

It was a crazy 30 minute or so stretch of the evening for the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night.

For a few minutes, reports suggested the Grizzlies could possibly be moving up for UCONN big Donovan Clingan, but the Charlotte Hornets instead kept their pick. As a result, Clingan was picked by the Portland Trail Blazers at pick seven. The Grizzlies then decided to keep their pick but stayed focused on the biggest need for their roster when Memphis selected Purdue big man Zach Edey.

While this pick is likely a surprise for many, the reasoning behind this pick for Memphis and the appeal of Edey himself are very simple. Memphis wanted a center and they made sure to address the need with Edey. Simply put, Edey is one of the most dominating talents in NCAA history. He is a massive big, and for a team that certainly can use offensive depth, Edey has plenty of offensive tools and upside that could be used to address that need. Edey is also a highly productive rebounder, excellent screener, and clearly has some rim protection upside.

Of course, Edey’s transition to the NBA has been a thoroughly addressed topic of discussion for many covering the league for a long time. And while that skepticism may be fair, it is important to point out that Edey has done a tremendous job of overcoming doubts so far in his basketball career and has produced undeniable excellence. He clearly has a skill set that fits many of needs the Grizzlies roster has, and he also seems to be a talent that will continue to work hard at his craft to be the best version of himself in the NBA.

Furthermore, he lands in a pretty good sport with the Grizzlies roster. Taylor Jenkins and his staff have a good track record of helping talented bigs evolve important parts of their game that will allow them to offer value in multiple ways. Edey is coming into a situation where winning core is already in place, and he will simply be asked to do things that will elevate that core to better offensive play while also helping with the needs of rebounding and rim protection.

Without a doubt, it was a very interesting night for the Memphis Grizzlies based on all the possibilities that could have occurred. It will certainly be a fun and intriguing ride ahead with Zach Edey in Memphis, and with his talent and work ethic, it could turn into a very profitable partnership for the foreseeable future.