NBA Draft 2020: Shakeup among frontcourt players in January mock draft

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 21: Trendon Watford #2 and Emmitt Williams #5 of the LSU Tigers defend Onyeka Okongwu #21 of the USC Trojans as he grabs a rebound in the second half of the game at Staples Center on December 21, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

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SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 14: De’Aaron Fox #5 high-fives Buddy Hield #24 of the Sacramento Kings (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

No. 8 Sacramento Kings – Deni Avdija, 6’8″ 210lbs, SF, Maccabi Tel Aviv

With a solid young backcourt in place, the Kings add a sweet-shooting forward to help stretch the floor and open up space.

The 2019-2020 season in Sacramento has not gone according to plan. After last season, it appeared Sacramento might have been turning the corner and would have a chance to nab a low playoff seed this season. That has not been the case. Instead, De’Aaron Fox has been in and out of the lineup, Buddy Hield hasn’t been the same, and Dwayne Dedmon requested a trade.

The Kings can do themselves a favor and try to get things under control by targeting Deni Avdija in the draft. Avdija is another name fans may not have heard as much about as some other prospects, but he offers great potential as a floor spacing and mobile big man. That sounds like the type of player to pair well with a Fox-Hield backcourt.

Avdija is still only 19 years old and he’ll need to add muscle to his frame to last and thrive in the NBA, but if the Kings could have him spacing the floor for Fox and Hield while also stretching the court to allow Marvin Bagley to work inside, things might start to look a whole lot better.

Avdija will likely remain a mystery man for the most part up until the pre-draft process (or draft day itself if he opts out of participating), but rest assured he offers value at the NBA level and can be a productive player in the proper situation.

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