Zach Edey wouldn’t have been a projected favorite to lead rookies in scoring on June 25. That was before a team with an immediate need for an interior presence used a top-10 pick to get him.

The Memphis Grizzlies took the 22-year-old center over younger prospects with perceived higher long-term ceilings like Cody Williams, Matas Buzelis and Nikola Topić. The pick suggests Memphis has intentions of using Edey right away, potentially in a starting role for a team looking to get back into contention.

Even No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher could have a tough time getting consistent scoring chances, given Atlanta’s group of wings/forwards and Risacher’s creation limitations.

On paper, the Grizzlies’ 7’4″ big man is in a good situation to be routinely set up for easy-basket opportunities, thanks to Ja Morant’s gravity and playmaking, Desmond Bane’s spacing and expanding passing game and Jaren Jackson Jr.’s ability to pull bigs away from the basket.

At Edey’s size, with his improved touch and conditioning, high-percentage finishing opportunities should inevitably be there for him on a consistent basis. He’ll generate most of his offense rolling off screens, crashing the glass and waiting in the dunker’s spot. But even NBA defenders could have trouble contesting the 300-pounder’s over-the-shoulder game from the post.

As long as Edey isn’t in foul trouble every game, he could be good for double-digit scoring. And in 2024-25, that may enough to lead all rookies, with Reed Sheppard in a deep Houston Rockets’ rotation, Rob Dillingham playing behind Mike Conley and Anthony Edwards, and Tobias Harris and Tim Hardaway Jr. moving ahead of Ron Holland in Detroit.