'How’s he gonna play defense in the NBA?' Gilbert Arenas claims Zach Edey would be ‘waste of a lottery pick’

Arenas alluded that in today’s NBA, the big man game has changed. Hence it will be a challenge for Edey to be effective.

The Purdue Boilermakers star center’s performances have meant NBA teams have sent out scouts to his games. However, his lack of mobility is concerning, as Arenas points out. Edey cannot play defense anywhere outside the paint. Gilbert Arenas thinks that’s going to be his biggest weakness.

The 7′ 4″ star will struggle against new-generation bigs such as Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid, who can move and score from anywhere. Edey’s defense comes majorly from the paint, but hardly any NBA centers play considerable minutes inside anymore.

Zach Edey’s game not in use by NBA centers anymore

Gone are the days when NBA teams used to send scouts all across the globe to search for the next great Big Man. It was difficult to find many who could have a positive impact, let alone find someone who could compete against the likes of Shaquille O’Neal. However, in this year’s NCAA Tournament, two players could have been top the 2-3 picks back in the 90’s or early 2000’s.

Zach Edey is a terrific low-post player, using post moves and his blocking skills to dominate in the NCAA. However, those skills will not lead to much in today’s NBA. Gone are the days when a center had to dominate the low post to win a game. Jokic and Embiid have evolved the center’s profile to stretch bigs. This makes Edey and fellow college star big man Donovan Clingan solid players but with redundant skills.

This is why Gilbert Arenas suggested that Edey would be a waste of a lottery pick. Teams would much rather spend that pick on a generationally skilled talent.