4. DENI AVDIJA, Wing, Maccabi Tel Aviv
Deni Avdija has carved out a real role on Maccabi Tel Aviv, an impressive feat for any teenage. The early, and frankly undeserved, comparisons to Luka Doncic have died out, and we have since gotten a good feel for Avdija’s probable draft range. He won’t fall much further than the top five.
At 6-foot-8, Avdija is a polished playmaker with the instincts of a lead guard. He’s not particularly explosive, but he’s not a stiff either. He can navigate pick-and-rolls, probe inside the defense, and effectively create for teammates. There is tremendous value in Avdija as a supersized secondary playmaker next to a more explosive lead guard.
Avdija will need to prove himself as a defender and as a shooter, but he should have the tools to succeed on both fronts. He’s mobile enough to defend multiple positions, and his shooting mechanics are clean. He can check a lot of boxes in the NBA.