Re-drafting the 2020 NBA Draft: Tyrese Maxey rises, Sixers target another guard

Re-drafting the 2020 NBA Draft — 10. Deni Avdija, Phoenix Suns

Injury cut Deni Avdija’s rookie season short. He underwhelmed in moments, but was thrilling in others. The fit with Russell Westbrook was not ideal. Other re-drafts have slotted Avdija much lower, but I remain confident in his long-term development. There’s no better fit on paper than Phoenix, where he can start in the Dario Saric/Torrey Craig mold and grow from there.

At 6-foot-9, Avdija played real professional minutes for Maccabi Tel Aviv before jumping to America. He was billed as a jumbo-sized point guard, with upside as pick-and-roll playmaker. Point guard is overly ambitious, but as a secondary creator and ball-mover, Avdija possesses a lot of upside. He should work well next to other ball-handlers, ideally with a spaced-out floor. Chris Paul and Devin Booker are much more favorable complements than he had in D.C. last season.

For the year, Avdija averaged only 6.6 points and 4.9 boards in 23.3 minutes. His 1.9 assists per game was especially underwhelming, but in context of Washington’s poorly constructed roster, in which Avdija was misutilized as almost exclusively a spot-up shooter, it’s understandable. The Suns would make him look a lot better.