5. Deni Avdija, Small Forward
Current Team: Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel)
In terms of prospects that have really high ceilings and have valid pro comparisons at the moment, Israeli 6-foot-9 small forward Deni Avdija is a good place to start. The comparisons are already rolling in between Deni and the Dallas Mavericks breakthrough superstar sophomore and MVP contending point guard Luka Doncic.
Both Avdija and Doncic are more than capable primary ball handlers and have good shots from the outside. Despite lower levels of athleticism compared to other wings in the past three draft classes at the top, Avdija and Doncic also can hold their own in the lane and get to the foul line more often than most would anticipate.
One of the better calling cards for Avdija is actually his facilitating ability. He should have one of the more efficient assist-to-turnover ratios right away in the NBA compared to the rest of the primary ball-handler-type wings in this draft class. He also has the size and awareness to hit the glass hard on both ends of the floor.
The shooting ability is there, but still needs work on his touch.
It’s rare that you can find an immediate impact-type international wing like Avdija. His age isn’t going to hold him back, as he’ll still be in his teens come to the 2020 NBA Draft night, and he brings a lot of promise to the table. The prospect profile of Avdija is about as advantageous as it gets for any international prospect for next year’s draft.