NBA Draft 2020: Mock Draft 4.0
27. . Wing / Maccabi Tel Aviv. New York Knicks. Deni Avdija. 4. player
The Knicks need a point guard of the future, and while Deni Avdija isn’t a point guard, he could help fill the void. At 6-foot-8, Avdija is a uniquely gifted playmaker out of Israel. He uses his size to his advantage, peering over defenders and making advanced reads. He can run the pick-and-roll, initiate sets, and push the tempo in transition.
The biggest concern for Avdija is his shooting. He has struggled from the free-throw line his entire career, so despite recent improvements from beyond the arc, some still question the sustainability of his success. But if you buy the shooting — as I do, since his mechanics are clean — then he’s probably a top-five prospect.
As a secondary playmaker, Avdija could provide some finesse to New York’s stagnant offense. He’s a willing ball-mover and a smart player — someone who can help involve more scoring-minded players like R.J. Barrett and Kevin Knox. The Knicks have swung on big-name European prospects in the (recent) past, and Avdija could mark another hit.