Should the Toronto Raptors draft a massive Canadian in Zach Edey?

The Toronto Raptors went into the season without a ton of height on the roster, as no player on the roster was listed as taller than 6-9. Pascal Siakam can only do so much when it comes to protecting the rim. They could change that unfortunate reality if they decide to add Purdue center Zach Edey to their ranks after another strong season in West Lafayette.

Edey is a Toronto native that decided to become the next seven-footer to link up with Matt Painter and the Boilermakers. Edey, listed at 7-4 and 295 pounds, has averaged 14.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.5 blocked shots per game this year despite the fact he is only averaging 17.8 minutes per game.

If Edey makes the jump to the NBA, Nick Nurse and the Raptors may have more information at their disposal than any other team in the league. Nurse had seen Edey, along with Arizona wing and potential lottery pick Bennedict Mathurin, up close with the Canadian national team. He’ll know where Edey has improved with Purdue.

If the Raptors can pick up a second-round selection or somehow maneuver into the end of the first round, they could end up taking Edey. He might be a bit of an incongruous fit with a smaller, faster team, but he would be a huge bandage that covers a festering would on this roster.

Could the Toronto Raptors bring Zach Edey back home?

Edey is not a completely unskilled big. With soft hands, a surprising array of post moves, and enough defensive intelligence to secure the rim at an adequate level, Toronto should feel confident about putting him out on the floor for heavy minutes.

If you look at his per 40-minute stats, Edey has been insanely impressive. While expecting anything close to that in the pros is absurd, it shows that the offensive completely gravitates around Edey when he is on the floor. If you’re shooting 70% from the floor, you’re doing something right.

The concerns with Edey are obvious. Players with those measurables are dying out in the modern NBA due to their general inability to adapt to smaller, faster lineups. The fact Edey has not played more than 22 minutes in a game this season shows that either he isn’t conditioned to handle extensive minutes or Painter doesn’t believe in him just yet.

Even with those issues, you can’t teach being that tall or that wide. If the Raptors either make a postseason run or decide to trade back, Edey could be a quality addition for the back end of this roster. If he can withstand the adjustment to the speed of the NBA, Edey could outplay his draft spot.