NBA Draft 2020: Top 3 options for Atlanta Hawks with No. 6 pick
By Karl Heiser
Deni Avdija, 6-7 Guard/Forward – Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel)
The Atlanta Hawks are also in need of a player not named Trae Young to create shots for themselves and others. Deni Avdija might fit that need. Avdija, a 19-year-old small forward from Israel, is being heralded by scouts as the best overall wing prospect in the draft.
If the Hawks were to draft him, he would provide versatility on both the offensive and defensive ends. His size and offensive skill set allows him to play multiple positions on the floor while a smooth shooting form and soft touch allow him to hit shots from beyond the arc or at the rim.
Like Okoro, he would provide opportunities for the Hawks to improve their ball movement and shot-creating as a drive-and-kick player. He is also a creative and accurate passer with excellent basketball IQ who knows how to hit the open man. While he most likely won’t be as special a player as Luka Doncic, Avdija exhibits many of the same skills Doncic did entering the 2018 NBA Draft.
While he does have a smooth stroke, his free-throw shooting is abysmally poor. This raises some questions about whether the shooting he has displayed will be consistent, but free-throw shooting is something that can be fixed.
Sometimes he also has trouble defending or attacking against more athletic players, but this is something many players have been able to overcome on pure skill alone, so this isn’t a major red flag as of now. Avdija has shown great improvement over the last year in his three-point shooting and defensive tenacity, which are very helpful for his stock entering the draft.