2020 NBA Mock Draft, 1.0: LaMelo Ball gives the Warriors a boost
By Zach Hood
Pick Analysis. Maccabi Tel Aviv. Deni Avdija. Scouting Report. 6-foot-9 | F. 2. player. 156
Cleveland is in a tough spot to be in near the top of this board, with it this class being fairly guard-heavy. They just took two guards, one in the 2018 lottery (Collin Sexton) and another in 2019 (Darius Garland). They could go Wiseman here, but with the trade for Andre Drummond (he’s a free agent but has a $28 million player-option, and obviously they like him if they traded for him), they may elect for a combo forward like Avdija. He possesses multiple skills — running the floor, passing (both in transition and in half-court), as well as potential defensive versatility since he has size and is a capable athlete.
The biggest question mark for Avdija regarding his ceiling is his efficiency from both the 3-point line and the free-throw stripe. If he doesn’t shoot, this probably turns out to be the wrong pick at No. 2. If he shoots as he has recently in Europe, he could be one of the better all-around 6-foot-9 playmakers in the NBA at his peak.