Piece by: Deren Cicitta
A lot of expectations for Edwards, as one of the best recruits coming out of high school. He did not have the season that most were expecting him to have for the Georgia Bulldogs. He struggled with being consistent on all aspects of his game. But when he showed up he made scouts remember the upside and potential that this kid has. Edwards is 6’5 with a NBA ready body weighing in at 225, the guy can absolutely jump out of the gym. Anthony Edwards is a special athlete and a guy most NBA people believe they can turn into a superstar.
Strengths: His athleticism is elite, which make scouts day dreaming about the kind of player Edwards can be. Edwards has a quick first step which helps him get to the rim, where he is a beast. Most of the time dunking over defenders or punishing smaller defenders with his great size and strength. Athleticism helps Edwards on the defensive end of the floor as well as he is a good shot blocker and a willing defender, which is a great sign for a young player. This means that Edwards will be willing to put in the work on the defensive end of the floor and improve quickly.
This is why he draws comparisons to Dwayne Wade, Wade a very similar build and similar defensive instincts. Edwards is a decent passer as well, and a good passer out of the double team. Important for him to have if he ever becomes a primary player who gets doubled in the NBA. Also he is an excellent rebounder for his position. Even though this is one of his weaknesses, Edwards has a nice looking shooting motion and shows a willingness to take long range shots. Something that other prospects who struggle to shoot don’t show any interest in doing. I believe that Edwards can develop into a respectable shooter in the NBA, similar to Wade throughout his career. Besides he shot 40% from the field and improved from high school on the free throw line, shooting 77%. Which is why he needs to attack the rim more often. That is Edwards biggest strength.
Weaknesses: Shooting! I know we discussed Edwards as a willing shooter and an improving shooter, but he still has some work to do. He shot a measly 29% from three this season, taking close to 8 attempts per game and only making 2. He is a streaky shooter, so he tends to fall in love with the 3 pointer a little too much for my liking. One of his weaknesses is that he does not use his biggest strength, which is his athleticism and body. An NBA team will help realize that he should always be attacking downhill instead of settling for the deep ball. Even though he has good passing skills he still has to improve as a playmaker and taking care of the ball. He averaged almost 3 turnovers a game during his brief tenure in Athens. It is only going to get harder defensively at the next level. Ever prospect needs help defensively and Edwards is no different.
Watching Edwards play he has a lot of different styles that you see. He probably should have more of a throwback two guard game, but can’t really because of today’s NBA. Which forces him to shoot more three’s than he probably shot right now in his career. I think Edwards has the capability of being an All-Star but I can also seeing him being a complete bust.
Player Comparison Best Case: Dwayne Wade/DeMar DeRozan
Player Comparison Worst Case: Stanley Johnson