(Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
The Memphis Grizzlies made a bit of a shocking pick.
Zach Edey was projected to be a mid-to-late first-round pick at best, yet they took him with the no. 9 pick.
It didn’t take long before the Canadian big man proved they might be on to something, as he had a strong outing in his first game of the Summer League.
As a matter of fact, he proved to be so ready that there was a major shift in his odds of winning Rookie of the Year.
As pointed out by ESPN Bet on Twitter, he had the fifth-best odds to win the award before his Summer League debut.
Now, he’s tied with No. 2 pick, Alex Sarr, at the top of the list, boasting +600 odds.
Edey had the fifth best odds to win ROY after the NBA draft, but is now a favorite (+600) along with Alex Sarr after posting a double-double in his Summer League debut pic.twitter.com/VQxVaNMEoZ
— ESPN BET (@ESPNBet) July 10, 2024
Edey had a double-double, blocked four shots, and had a game-tying tip-in to force overtime.
He was one of the most dominant players in college basketball for two consecutive seasons.
Nonetheless, given his frame, some scouts were worried about his ability — or lack thereof — to become a defensive factor on the perimeter, not to mention the fact that there are always some health concerns about players who are built like him.
Of course, we already know that the Summer League is pretty much meaningless, for better or worse.
But it’s always nice to see players get off to a strong start and display their confidence right out of the gate, especially those who might be asked to start for their teams as soon as the season starts.
The post Grizzlies Rookie Had Notable Shift In ROY Odds After Summer League Debut appeared first on The Cold Wire.