NBA Draft: 3 center prospects for Cavaliers to replace Lopez

Center Prospect No. 2: Zach Edey, Purdue

The reigning National Player of the Year in college basketball may elect to return to school, so he is not a lock to be in the draft pool, let alone available when the Cavaliers make their pick at No. 47. If he is, he has an intriguing skillset that may be enticing to Cleveland.

The Purdue Boilermaker is 7’4″ tall, a behemoth in the middle of the court. It’s nearly impossible to deny him an entry pass, and he can finish up and over most any defender trying to get in his way. He isn’t much of a jump shooter, but his touch around the rim has improved steadily over the past few years.

The problem with Edey’s projection into the NBA is on defense. He is gigantic in the lane and an excellent shot deterrent deep in the paint, but in space he is barbecue chicken. Purdue and Edey were upset in the NCAA Tournament because their opponent went small and took advantage of Edey in space, and NBA teams will do the same thing.

Edey is therefore destined for a small role in the NBA, but that could be a fit for what the Cavaliers need. Edey could give them an offensive option who can survive defensively in a deep drop system in small bursts.