NBA 2020 Mock Draft 1.0 – Options abound for OKC Thunder
By Rylan Stiles
San Antonio Spurs. Deni Avdija . 12. player. 29. . Wing | Maccabi Fox Tel Aviv
The Spurs get another overseas stud.
Wow, I was not aware this was something the Spurs organization could do. But here they are, picking in the Lottery for the first time that I can remember in my 22 years of living.
The San Antonio Spurs are not a good team. They will miss the postseason, and it is okay to admit that. That slots them to select in the lottery, granted the tail end of the lottery, but still. Gregg Popovich returns to the sidelines in 2020-21 and has a new foreign player to torment the rest of the league with.
Why does Deni Avdija fall this far? I am sure that is what you NBA Draft nuts are wondering. He has so much hype around him, right? Well, In my opinion, he is an old-school big. His three-point shot is nonexistent, his mid-range game is fine, and he can not sink free throws. That does not fit the current style of basketball.
The 6’8 210 pound 19-year-old still has room to grow. Being mentored by LaMarcus Aldridge for a year sure would do Avdija some good.
Of course, it is not all bad with Deni Avdija, there is a reason he is getting so much love, and most have him pegged for a top-five pick. His playmaking ability in the post is off the charts. He has some of the best handles you will see from a power forward spot in this class, and his vision is unmatched. Playing in a motion offense that allows him to show it off will be great for him.
I worry about the aforementioned shot, and his ability to play defense at an NBA level. Especially with the hybrid wing/big men, he will be tasked with handling.
A great pickup for the Spurs later in the NBA Draft than most expect, and while he will play heavy NBA minutes as a rookie in my estimation, he is still a project.