4. DENI AVDIJA / WING / MACCABI TEL AVIV
A 6-foot-9 forward whose skill set at times mirrors a point guard, Deni Avdija should have a prominent spot in the NBA. He has carved out a meaningful role for Maccabi Tel Aviv as a teenager, and his accomplishments to date are thoroughly impressive. He has long dominated the youth scene overseas.
Avdija has a couple major red flags, the main one being his jumper. While his three-point percentages have improved of late, he’s not a great free throw shooter and it’s natural to therefore question his touch. While his talent as a playmaker — either in a guard-type role, or out of the post — carries immense value, it’s limited if defenses ignore him behind the arc.
If the shooting comes around in a convincing way, it becomes difficult to detract from Avdija has a prospect. He’s not a great athlete, but he’s plenty mobile and he’s a smart, hard-nosed defender. He has filled out his frame nicely this season. Avdija competes, he’s not prone to mistakes, and he’s a proven asset in a professional league. He’s easy to bet on in a somewhat unpredictable rookie class.