OKC Thunder draft prospect profile: Deni Avdija

Pro Comparison:

Kevin O’Connor of the Ringer lists OKC Thunder forward Danilo Gallinari, Hornets Nicolas Batum, and Suns Dario Saric as Avdija’s closest comparisons.

If you’ve followed yours truly for very long you’d know that triumvirate of forwards has all found themselves highlighted in trade articles over the past several seasons. Gallo and Saric specifically are both players who in my humble opinion fall under the Rasheed Wallace special category. The Sheed – Ball Don’t Lie category for me is a player who has the ability to push a team over the top based on their overall skillset.

Thunder Nation witnessed how underrated Gallo was last season and all those little things he does so effortlessly. Saric falls under that same scenario for me and I’ll admit I was a huge Batum fan (when he was still in Portland – well maybe his first season in Charlotte too).

What isn’t known about the youngster is how good his shot can be but as he touched on in his media interview he’s more than willing to put the work in to recognize results.

Suffice to say, Avdija was a player I took a keen interest in immediately. After watching his pre-draft combine media session I came away even more impressed. Sometimes, it’s just a gut feeling, and in his case, I’m feeling he’ll be one of the prospects from the 2020 class who we look back on and say –  why didn’t everyone know he would be a core contributor?

OKC Thunder fit:

Hey if you’re going to let Danilo Gallinari walk or do a sign and trade with him why not add the younger version now, during the rebuilding phase?

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At issue, of course, is Avdija is likely to be selected in the lottery round and likely in the top seven. But… with many of the top teams talking about trading their pick I wonder if Avdija could end up being a player who slips down the ladder while teams focus on players they know more about or who have more bravado.

Then again, with rumors the Warriors are considering trading with the Spurs to nab LaMarcus Aldridge it had me sitting straight up and thinking — I bet you Pops sees a young Boris Diaw in the making with Avdija and wants to ensure the Spurs get him. Granted I have zero knowledge of Avdija being in the mix here – but it sure makes logical sense to me.

If I’m right consider the last time the Spurs traded to move up and get a player they wanted in the draft— they traded George Hill to Indiana to get Kawhi Leonard! If I’m even remotely close to being right then my advice to Sam Presti is to get in the mix to try to steal Avdija (particularly if the Spurs and Dubs don’t pull the Aldridge trade before the draft).

The only downside of Avdija is the questions surrounding his shotmaking but as noted from his media session he’s willing to take 3,000 daily free throws to move his average over 70 percent.

All I’m saying — is do yourself a favor and go watch that media session. Unlike many of the prospects who sang their own praises or boasted, this youngster kept talking about doing what the team needed. In fact, the only strength he listed of his own was being a good teammate!

There are three players in this draft I’d advise Sam Presti to trade up for and one of them is Deni Avdija! I’m not suggesting the OKC Thunder give up any of their future draft picks but there could be other options available.