Dreams became reality as four Big Ten players heard their name called at the NBA Draft last night. Unfortunately, odds are this won’t work out for all of them and the fit is a major reason. Here is my grade for the fit of all the Big Ten players drafted.
by Jordan Beckley
A couple disclaimers before we hop into my annual Big Ten focused NBA draft piece.
I will not be writing about any players from incoming Big Ten programs like Washington, UCLA, USC, and Oregon. I didn’t cover those players this season and I don’t want to do a disservice to them.
Another disclaimer that this is grading the fits FOR THE PLAYER not for the team. This is a Big Ten blog for Big Ten fans and I am just trying to think out loud for those fans on what awaits their guy at the next level.
There were more French players drafted than Big Ten players this year, but still let’s break down the four whose dream became reality last night.
Zach Edey
Rd 1, Pick 9 / Memphis Grizzlies
The two time reigning National Player of the Year goes no. 9 to Memphis in potentially a perfect marriage.
The Big Maple will be moving down South to be front court teammates with Spartan alum Jaren Jackson Jr. who will keep the paint open on offense and be able to cover for Edey’s weaknesses in help defense. Edey will immediately be setting some of the best screens in the NBA for arguably the most explosive downhill threat in the association in Ja Morant. Morant in turn will spoon-feed Edey trailing alley oop lobs and patented baby hooks.
Memphis has been one of the smartest drafting teams in recent memory. Ja Morant and JJJ are teammates designed for Edey. Zach played with an explosive guard in Jaden Ivey his Sophomore season and that went pretty well for both parties.
In the days following the Wednesday night pick, Grizzlies GM Zach Kleiman has discussed how Edey will help halfcourt offense and they will be able to dictate and dominate matchups with him on the floor. The Grizzlies don’t have a true center on the roster and while they will likely sign one in free agency, it’s clear that Edey will have a lot of runway in Tennessee.
Oh and for all the haters who said Edey was just tall or who said he wasn’t going to be a good pro… that unskilled oaf just went Top 10 and will make just under $10 million the next two seasons. Some of those haters were Vols fans who have had a tough 48 hours of bargaining.
Grade: A+
Kel’el Ware
Rd 1, Pick 15 / Miami Heat
I don’t know, I guess the Big Ten players are going to the best drafting teams.
Kel’el Ware is the type of center every team would want in the modern NBA. A rim protector on one end and a rim running monster on the other with enough touch to hit some shots from the outside.
Miami took a shot on that tantalizing talent in the middle of the draft. The fit is good not great. In the midst of whatever is happening with Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo is the one of the only pieces fully locked up long term. Can Ware and Adebayo share the floor together? Will Ware be able to succeed offensively if he isn’t the main screen setter? No one else challenges Ware’s minutes but an All-NBA player at his position will knock the fit grade.
Still, Hoosier fans should be elated. Coach Woodson did a tremendous job to develop Ware and prove to NBA scouts that Ware is more than a few measurements but can produce on the floor too. Indiana now has two Top 17 picks in Ware and Hood-Schifino and a 2nd round hit in Trayce Jackson-Davis in short succession under Woody. Ware needs to keep up the development in the pros and things will work out for him. He’s too talented not to.
Side note, Ware taking an extra beat to soak up the moment before grabbing the Heat hat off the pedestal, cross the stage and shake Adam Silver’s hand was one of my favorite moments of the draft. Contrary to rumors about how much he cares about basketball, obviously this meant the world to him.
Grade: B+
Terrence Shannon Jr.
Rd 1, Pick 27 / Minnesota Timberwolves
Terrence Shannon’s legal trouble took a lot from him.
It took away 6 regular season games. It took away a likely 1st Team All-American bid. It took away many other accolades from outlets scared of the ramifications of the trial. It likely cost him a few draft spots.
Perhaps the worst was that the moment he dreamed of his whole life was spent explaining his legal battle and that he had been acquitted earlier this month. TSJ didn’t get a big highlight package and his walk up to Adam Silver broadcast on National TV in the way it should have gone for a player of his stature.
I feel for him, but I don’t think TSJ is done having special moments. Shannon is a ferocious downhill attacker with massive size for a guard. There can be questions about his off-ball offense in a halfcourt setting, but Minnesota clearly went into this draft with a type in mind.
The offense stalled for the Timberwolves against the Mavs in the Western Conference Finals. So, Minnesota grabbed two dynamic guards to put next to Anthony Edwards. First, Minny picked up Rob Dillingham from the Spurs at pick 8 and then TSJ with their own pick at 27.
A backcourt of Anthony Edwards and TSJ is basically the Basketball version of Fast and the Furious. Still, there is competition in front of Shannon. Mike Conley is still around but for how long? Nickeil Alexander Walker occupied the athletic defending guard off the bench last year. Dillingham will almost certainly get the first run as the backup point. Shannon’s role is murky knocking down the fit ranking, but he also knew going in that he would go somewhere and earn minutes as a backup.
Grade: B-
Cam Christie
Rd 2, Pick 46 / Los Angeles Clippers
Matt Painter once said something on a podcast that has stuck with me. He said that he’s never had a guy leave a year too early for the NBA draft. When you go through his history it’s true.
Jajuan Johnson was a first rounder. A year prior, he wouldn’t have been drafted. Caleb Swanigan went mid 1st round after being a second round grade after his Freshman year. Carsen Edwards rode an electric March Madness to be an early 2nd round pick after being in undrafted territory the past season. Jaden Ivey shot up to a Top-5 pick after being a fringe 1st rounder as a Freshman. Now, Zach Edey rocketed up to be a Top-10 pick when the year before he would maybe be a 2nd-rounder.
Say what you want about College Athletics, but the good coaches wholeheartedly care about YOUR development. Cam Christie at pick 46 will go play for the Clippers and likely develop in the G League mainly next season. Christie will be priority #10 at best on what the Clippers front office care about and probably lower when you factor the players they may want to trade for.
It will be solely up to him to make sure that he makes it. If Christie came back to Minnesota his NBA development would have been priority number 1 and he might have had a similar 1st round jump and got a guaranteed contract.
It’s the same fast-forward focused decision that his brother Max Christie made which Tom Izzo was so furious about.
I love Christie. He was one of the most improved players in a single season I have seen. His jumper got increasingly more fluid, he was more active hunting shots and he became more and more comfortable guarding older, bigger players. Yet, even in this draft he wasn’t a first round pick yet.
His fit is muddied by the Clippers commitment to the 46th overall pick. Theoretically, the only player in front of him tied up long term is Kawhi Leonard. The dream version of this is Paul George is traded creating ample minutes/opportunities and he is able to carve out a role in their future plans. Undoubtedly, the Clippers are a nice fit for him personally as he will share LA with his brother and have former Gopher Amir Coffey as a teammate.
I wish him luck, but I also wish he was playing in the Big Ten again next year.
Grade: C
Thanks for reading. Our basketball coverage will be ramping back up after a summer hiatus. Get ready for power rankings, transfer player breakdowns, and more offseason features soon.