Washington Wizards draft targets, how many wins could a new player add?
By Keith Cork
4. Deni Avdija
Deni Avdija. 5. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. SF. 142. Israel. player
Player Profile:
Projected to go somewhere in the 5-10 range of the NBA draft this season is the first highly touted international player, Deni Avdija. The 6’8″, 210 pound shooting forward is sure to have a ton of team’s interested and with less question marks that surrounded international players previously in these drafts at the game gets more and more global.
Avdija plays for the Under-20 champion Maccabi Tel Aviv team and may not have as much fanfare still on draft night as a Lamelo Ball or RJ Hampton. But he deserves it, with the ability to be within the top two or three options for an NBA team.
Like Toppin, the Washington Wizards will have to get lucky for Deni Avdija to fall to them, or luck into a higher pick. But he’s right in that sweet spot and just enough of an unknown that he may just be available come time to pick. Fingers crossed.
What should have Wizards fans most excited, as with Toppin, is Avdija’s 36 percent mark from beyond the arc in his short career. He’ll need to build a bit on his slim frame for the NBA competition, but short of that his length and athleticism makes him a net positive on both sides of the floor.
He could slot into the starting position for the Washington Wizards quite nicely with his ability to both shoot the ball and the court vision to pass the ball when that’s the smart play. His demeanor would fit right in with the kind of guys Tommy Sheppard has been going after too, with a selfless style of play and focus on the team above his own success.