With the 2024 NBA Finals over and the NBA Draft just two days away, every NBA fan and team has shifted their focus to the 2024 draft. This year’s draft is considered one of the weakest in recent years, but plenty of interesting and unique players still exist. One of the more interesting prospects is Purdue’s Center Zach Edey. Edey is a typically old-fashioned back-to-the-basket big and would have been a surefire top pick 15 years ago.
However, with the NBA game changing, Edey could be drafted anywhere in this draft. There is one team in the NBA that is the perfect match for the two-time national player of the year: the Denver Nuggets.
This Western Conference Team is The Perfect Fit For Zach Edey
The Nuggets Need a Backup Center
The Nuggets will be looking to get back to the Finals next year and improve this roster. One of their biggest needs is a backup center for Nikola Jokic. The Nuggets are one of the worst teams whenever Jokic goes to the bench. For the last couple of years, the Nuggets’ backup centers have been DeAndre Jordan and Zeke Nnaji. The Nuggets offense runs through their post players, and Jordan—at this stage of his career—is not that guy anymore. Nnaji is still young but has not developed as they had hoped.
The Nuggets need a player in this draft that is ready to play now, and Zach Edey is the best center option that is capable of doing that in this draft. The Nuggets are a team that doesn’t shoot a lot of threes and likes to play a slower pace offensive game. This play style fits perfectly for Zach Edey.
Zach Edey’s Fit With The Nuggets
With the Nuggets having Jokic, their backup center only needs to play 10-15 minutes every game. One of Zach Edey’s weaknesses is not being able to move his feet fast enough to guard on the perimeter. The Nuggets play a lot of drop coverage on defense, which is exactly what Edey likes to play. Offense is where Edey will fit the most for the Nuggets. Therefore, with the Nuggets having players like Jokic and Aaron Gordon, they like to run their offense through the post.
With Zach Edey coming off the bench, the Nuggets would not have to change their play style on offense. Of course, Edey will not be the passer that Jokic is in the post. However, he has the potential to be just as effective of a scoring threat inside. The most important part about him going to the Nuggets is he will be able to learn from Nikola Jokic. The Nuggets have the team with the ability to only have Edey play 10-15 minutes every game. In those short bursts, Edey has the potential to be a very productive NBA player. To go along with that, it will also allow Nuggets fans to breathe a little in the non-Jokic Minutes.
The Last Word
The Nuggets coming into the draft have picks 28 and 57. There is a good chance the Nuggets will have to trade up to draft Zach Edey. However, the Nuggets’ top priority this offseason is finding a backup center that is ready to play now. Edey is ready to play now and is the best center prospect in this draft who fits the Nuggets’ play style. It will be worth it for the Nuggets to trade up and find their backup center for the future.
