The Future of Purdue’s Zach Edey in the NBA is Getting Clearer

There's no denying the superstar power of Purdue's Zach Edey, and everyone is guessing where he'll get picked in the NBA Draft. The 2024 NCAA Championship happened several weeks ago, and now, all anyone can talk about when it comes to college hoops is the upcoming NBA Draft. At 7'4", Edey was one of the tallest players in college hoops, and that height should help him in the pros, albeit not as much. Now, Edey has declared for the NBA Draft, reports ESPN. There was never really a question of if he would go to the NBA, but now, it's official. So, where will Purdue's Zach Edey end up?

Purdue's Zach Edey is a huge talent on the court. He's a two-time Naismith National Player of the Year. He helped lead Purdue to many victories during his time at the college. As a Michigan State Spartans fan, I was never happy to see Edey help the Boilmakers beat the Spartans, but I respect his talent and skills. But, even with all of his great skills, he's not expected to be drafted in the top 10 in the NBA Draft. Many analysts, including myself, see him going later, although I could certainly see him being a mid or late first-round pick. Some NBA scouts think it will be hard for him to transition to the NBA, where his size won't be such an anomaly. He's also not known for his three-point shooting, which is critical in the NBA these days. That said, he's still incredible and should be an asset to any team that picks him.

As for when his name will be called, ESPN has him as the No. 14 prospect in their draft projections. CBSSports.com has him as their No. 26 pick, but they note, "He's been the best player in college for two straight years and should get looks as early as the teens in this draft." USAToday.com has him anywhere from the No. 20 to No. 26 pick. Sports Illustrated as him going No. 26.

Regardless of what number he is, fans and analysts seem to want to see Purdue's Zach Edey with the Toronto Raptures, since he's Canadian. It would be a heartwarming homecoming to have him with the Raptures. In USAToday.com's latest mock draft, they have Toronto taking Matas Buzelis and Zach Edey, to add size to their team. Size is something they need and will get with those two guys. Moreover, fans on X (formerly Twitter) seem set on the idea of Edey coming back home to play for the Raptures.

The NBA season is in full swing. The league recently came back to action after the 2024 All-Star break, and now, the season is about two-thirds over, and the end is in sight. But, there's still lots of season up ahead, and plenty of things could happen between now and the end of the season. So, as we had into the final stretch, what are some of the NBA teams to watch right now?

The teams on top are no stranger to high rankings. These teams have a long history of strong performances over the past few years. Hardly anyone would argue against the fact that the Boston Celtics are the strongest team in the league right now. They just keep winning, winning and winning. It's going to be hard to bring these guys down. Other extra strong teams include the Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder. All three of those teams - the Celtics, Timberwolves and Thunder - have able to rack up 40 wins before 20 losses.

This is always an exciting time in the NBA. While plenty of the season is behind us, a lot could happen in the final one-third of the regular season. There are always surprises and upsets. I'm a Detroit Pistons fan, and while I'm not delusional enough to think that we're going to win it all this year, I believe in our team. I truly think the Pistons will surprise people in the last part of the season. Cade Cunningham has been playing very well lately. He's such a star. Moreover, the team just beat the Chicago Bulls on the road on Tuesday night (Feb. 27). That was following a near-win against the New York Knicks on Monday (Feb. 26), which the team lost largely due to a bad call. So, these guys might surprise you.

Let's get into five NBA teams to watch right now.

The 76ers are solid this year, but they aren't one of the best of the best. That said, there's lots of potential here. Watch these guys closely. It's so fun to watch Tyrese Maxey, who is a total superstar. He's been averaging an upwards of 28 points per game lately.

The Minnesota Timberwolves had a big loss to the Bucks following the break, but then, they came back and definitively beat the Nets. The Wolves have been experiencing a few offensive hiccups, but they're still one of the strongest teams in the league.

The Oklahoma City Thunder crew is on fire. Coming back from break, they totally blew out the Clippers, Wizards and Rockets. Chet Holmgren is a star here, averaging around 24 points a game.

The Denver Nuggets are another team that came out of break with fire. These guys have been on a winning streak since the break ended. Nikola Jokic has been especially strong since break, averaging around 27 points per game.

The Boston Celtics are really the strongest team in the NBA right now. They're on a winning streak, which is nothing new for them. They have not one but a group of star players in Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Derrick White. It's hard to see any team topping them.