Washington Wizards: Is Deni Avdija the answer at small forward?

The Fit with Deni Avdija

If the Washington Wizards decide that they want to start Avdija, he will bring a lot of useful versatility to a starting unit. Avdija thrives on his ability to make plays with the ball in his hands. Playing next to both Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal would definitely take some of this away from Avdija, but having so many playmakers on a starting unit can only be looked at as a positive.

Another thing with Deni that will be interesting to watch will be his ability to shoot the basketball. His shooting consistency was one of the biggest question marks surrounding Avdija during the draft process. However, the interesting thing is that from watching him, you can see that he has solid form and mechanics. It just seems like he needs more reps. In his first preseason game, he made all six of his field-goal attempts, including three three-pointers.

If Deni can knock down open shots and continue his work as a playmaker, he has the potential not only to be the best option for the Wizards at small forward but also a great player in this league. If opponents have to respect Avdija along the perimeter, it will open up the floor for the Wizards’ star-studded backcourt and allow them to pick apart their foes.

Offensively, Avdija looks like the total package. But the Wizards didn’t lack offense last season. It was their defense that needed help. If the Wizards believe Avdija can be a serious liability on defense,  Troy Brown Jr or Isaac Bonga could be better fits, considering how many scorers the Wizards already have.

I do not think anybody believes Deni is a bad defender right now, more on the level of ‘average’. But if he can continue to improve, this may be just another reason to add him to that starting lineup.