Looking at best, worst destinations for Deni Avdija in 2020 NBA Draft

The 2020 NBA Draft is set for Thursday, June 25, and despite the coronavirus pandemic, we need to start looking at prospects and where they might land. After the NBA Draft Lottery takes place, teams will know where they’re selecting in the first round. Even though we don’t know where each team will pick, there’s no reason we can’t start speculating where prospects will end up on draft night. In this segment, we’ll be looking at each top prospect and breaking down their best and worst possible destination in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Deni Avdija, SF, Israel

Best possible destination: Golden State Warriors

When the Warriors are healthy, they’re stacked at every position but small forward and center. Steph Curry and Klay Thompson will headline the backcourt while Draymond Green holds it down in the front court. The departures of Kevin Durant and Andre Iguodala has opened the door for a versatile wing to step in. Avdija can be that for Golden State.

Avdija is 6’9” with a slight build but can do a little bit of everything. He’s an adequate passer, cutter, and finisher who doesn’t need the ball to impact the game. He’s also shoots a reasonable percentage from deep and has smart shot selection. His lack of strength and lateral mobility could cause problems on the defensive end though. While Avdija might not worth a No. 1 pick, he’s the best fit for the Warriors and could help them them trade back and acquire more assets. Even if he doesn’t start as a rookie, he could provide valuable bench scoring.

Worst possible destination: Detroit Pistons

Detroit has had quite a few players who play Avdija’s position and no sense of direction. Blake Griffin is still under contract for a few more years, Christian Wood is starting to break out, and Sekou Doumbouya is a 2019 first-round pick who plays small forward and power forward. Where does Avdija fit in here?

Healthy Griffin led the Pistons in assists in 2017 and 2018. If he continues to handle the ball frequently in 2020-21, it could take away from Avdija’s secondary playmaking chops. Griffin would likely be the starting power forward, so Avdija could end up having to split time with Doumbouya and Tony Snell on the wing. The 19-year-old might not be able to step into a prominent role as a rookie, but playing alongside quality veterans in a system with good ball movement could maximize his upside and speed up his development.