Zach Edey leaves Purdue as one of the most decorated players in program history. The 7-foot-4 Toronto native was named Naismith Men’s College Player of the Year in the 2022-23 season, then repeated the honor in 2023-24. It’s not just hometown blinders that will make Ontario sports betting customers take notice of Edey’s next destination.
So which NBA team will draft Edey? Big men are not as in demand as they once were as draft picks, but in the 2024 NBA Draft, some team will get a big prize in Edey. Here are our top contenders:
| Team | Percentage Chance | Odds |
| New York Knicks | 18.2% | +450 |
| Washington Wizards | 16.7% | +500 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | 12.5% | +700 |
| Toronto Raptors | 9.1% | +1000 |
| Boston Celtics | 9.1% | +1000 |
| Phoenix Suns | 7.4% | +1250 |
| The Field | 26.7% | +275 |
*Subject to change, last updated on May 15
We now have the New York Knicks as the slight favorite to draft Edey. We rate the Knicks at +450 American odds, or an 18.2% implied probability. That’s just ahead of the Washington Wizards (+500 odds, 16.7% implied probability) and the New Orleans Pelicans (+700, 12.5%). These odds are exclusive to OntarioBets.com but Ontario sportsbook apps offer a variety of NBA Draft prop wagers.
Since our last update, at the beginning of May, Edey’s hometown Toronto Raptors have entered our radar to possibly have a chance to select the big man. We give them +1000 odds, same as the Boston Celtics. Since the NBA Draft lottery, which was held on May 12, the draft order is much clearer – though not set in stone, as trades before and even during the draft have become a whole cottage industry. Toronto has the No. 19 and No. 31 overall selections in the draft, which will take place June 26-27 in Brooklyn, New York. Check out our Toronto Raptors draft odds page for our best guesses on the team’s direction.
| Mock Draft | Team | Pick Number |
| NBADraft.net | San Antonio Spurs | No. 35 |
| The Ringer | New York Knicks | No. 25 |
| On3 | Washington Wizards | No. 26 |
| Tankathon | Boston Celtics | No. 30 |
| CBS Sports’ Kyle Boone | Washington Wizards | No. 26 |
| CBS Sports’ Gary Parrish | New York Knicks | No. 24 |
| ESPN’s Jonathan Givony & Jeremy Woo | Miami Heat | No. 15 |
| NBA Draft Room | Sacramento Kings | No. 13 |
*Subject to change, last updated on May 15
Just because the NBA Draft order is now set, that does not make Edey’s pro destination any clearer. We consulted eight NBA mock drafts and only two of them have the former Purdue All-American going in the same spot. He’s projected as high as No. 13 overall (by NBA Draft Room) and as low as No. 35, which would put him in the second round (that’s from NBADraft.net). Most mocks have Edey projected to go in the middle or late first round.
Edey averaged 22.3 points and 12.9 rebounds per game as a junior for the Boilermakers in the 2022-23 season. He scored even more this past season, at 25.2 ppg, and though his rebounding average fell slightly to 12.2, that was still tops in the Big Ten and second in the nation, behind Akron’s Enrique Freeman (12.9 rpg).
So, among the NBA teams on our odds board or in experts’ mock drafts, which could use a boost in scoring and especially on the boards? Washington was the second-worst rebounding team in the league in the 2023-24 season at 41.1 per game. The Raptors were 23rd at 42.7 rpg.
As for teams on our list that could use a scoring boost, we again have Washington (No. 17 in scoring at 113.7 points per game) plus the Knicks (No. 19, 112.8 ppg) and Raptors No. 21, 112.4 ppg).
See the Ontario NBA betting guide for general wagering insights on basketball.
USA Today photo by Bob Donnan
Based on projected NBA mock drafts and odds across the industry, former Purdue center Zach Edey will definitely be chosen in the 2024 NBA Draft, with a high possibility that he gets selected as a mid to late lottery pick.
On April 30, former Purdue center Zach Edey officially ended his illustrious college basketball career by declaring for the 2024 NBA Draft. Edey is projected to get selected in the first round of the NBA Draft and will have a great shot at making an NBA roster.
Upcoming 2024 NBA Draft prospect Zach Edey, at 7 feet 4, has a max vertical leap of 29.5 inches and a standing vertical leap of 26 inches.
The consensus National Player of the Year and former Boilermaker, Zach Edey, is Canadian. He was born in Toronto to his mother Julia, who is of Chinese descent, and father Glen, who is white. Edey played at Leaside High School in Toronto before moving to the United States to attend IMG Academy in Florida.
Author
Jim Tomlin is an editor and writer specializing in sports, gambling and the intersection of those industries. He has 30+ years of journalism experience and his work has appeared in the Tampa Bay Times, FanRag, Saturday Down South and Saturday Tradition.
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