4. Deni Avdija
Some (cough me cough cough) may have credited the hype and subsequent success of Luka Doncic for the buzz Deni Avdija has generated. While that may have played a part, the 6-foot-9 forward has certainly done more than enough to warrant the discussions comparing him to the Dallas Mavericks young superstar.
Karnisovas came from the Denver Nuggets, an organization with an international sensation of their own in Nikola Jokic. Denver also just drafted one of the stars of the bubble scrimmages in 7-foot-2 Bol Bol; a player with tremendous talent but a lengthy injury history.
https://twitter.com/WinnerLeague/status/1288174942513532928
All that is to say he isn’t afraid to go overseas or take risks for players he feels are worth it. Avdija doesn’t have injury concerns but taking international players is always met with skepticism.
Avdija averaged 13.5/6.1/2.6 in 28 games for Maccabi Tel Aviv becoming the youngest player to win the Israeli Winner League MVP award at 19 years old. He was also the Israeli Player of the Year and a member of the league’s “Best Five”.
In the postseason, he put up 10.8/7.5/2.5 while leading his team to its third-straight title, with a signature performance ahead of the quarterfinals where he put up a 20-10 double-double. Avdija doesn’t lack confidence. He knows what his ceiling is but recognizes that the team’s goals outweigh his own.
"“Before I go to the U.S., I have a job to finish here in Israel. As a competitor I am committed to my organization and teammates to help bring a championship to Tel Aviv. We were having such a great season, so winning the title, even with the delay and without live fans, will give me a sense that the hard work paid off.” – per Jonathan Givony/ESPN"
Considered a jack-of-all-trades by scouts, he looks to turn the negative connotation behind that into a positive.
He can play anywhere from shooting guard to power forward and maybe even some center in small-ball lineups. His ability to initiate offense and create (for himself and others) only adds to a profile that also includes being effective in the pick-and-roll.
Avdija shot 35 percent from deep, raising concerns about his NBA range. And some question his wingspan (6-foot-9) and scoring output for someone being treated like the ‘next big thing’ to come out of Europe. But more concerning is his paltry free-throw shooting; both in attempts and conversion.
He could also have the luxury of getting his bearings in the NBA playing behind Otto Porter next season; assuming the roster stays as-is in 2021. Chicago would be going the unconventional route to their conventional problem of lacking a true setup man for the scorers on the roster.