2020 NBA Draft

[I'mWithDan]

I get the argument for Deni's high floor (and I agree with it). But what's the argument for his high ceiling? Solid, experienced, well-rounded, versatile...these are all good adjectives for him. But where's the star potential? He doesn't have any outlier skills offensively, and while he's a good athlete it's not like he's a freak by NBA standards or anything. Seems like a roleplayer through and through.

I think he's more of a role player type at the 3.........but I do see where his skills can become more standout as a 4. Then the question becomes, does he have the demeanor to go bang with guys who are bigger and more physical? I have no idea.

His tape shows he has good instincts defending bigs........his base is solid, he rarely gets bullied and he's a good vertical challenger of shots. On the flip side, if you think he's a 3, I just don't see how someone like him defends NBA 3's relative to the lateral movement he shows.

If you can envision him as a less athletic but better shooting Bam, I see his ceiling. A do it all 4 with a floor game. But if people are trying to sell him as a 3? I really just don't see that. He's just not creative enough with the ball right now.

 

[Nathan S]

That is inherently the problem with this draft.......is it is a lot of players that, quite honestly, are not ready to play or are unknown. The only guys I am confident can be inserted in to a rotation and not be a disaster are Okungwu, Vassell and Haliburton. Everyone else, who knows.

This is a good point. I'd also offer up Tre Jones and Jalen Smith, but a ton of prospects (including many prospects I like a lot) won't be successful without significant adjustments/improvements.

 

[Nathan S]

I think he's more of a role player type at the 3.........but I do see where his skills can become more standout as a 4. Then the question becomes, does he have the demeanor to go bang with guys who are bigger and more physical? I have no idea.

He tape shows he has good instincts defending bigs........his base is solid, he rarely gets bullied and he's a good vertical challenger of shots. I just don't see how someone like him defends NBA 3's relative to the lateral movement he shows.

If you can envision him as a less athletic but better shooting Bam, I see his ceiling. But if people are trying to sell him as a 3? I really just don't see that. He's just not creative enough with the ball right now.

I think he can defend 4's, but how does he function in the paint offensively? Bam can pass and shoot a little, but his bread and butter is grabbing offensive rebounds and drawing fouls in the paint. Those are big weaknesses for Deni, in contrast. He can space the floor, which is good, but he can't put pressure on the defense like Bam can. Everything points to him being a low-usage (but efficient) floor spacer 3/4 in the NBA, IMO.

 

[Los216]

My problem with Deni, is he seems like a 4 to me.........but how do we get him minutes if he is? Love can't play the 5 and I think Deni is going to get beat up at the 3, especially against the top wings. I think there is an immediate path to success as a point forward type 4.......where his floor and dribble game becomes a plus skill vs a potentially average one at the 3. But to me, Deni is a project if you want to play him at the 3. He's going to need a lot of development there IMO.

That is inherently the problem with this draft.......is it is a lot of players that, quite honestly, are not ready to play or are unknown. The only guys I am confident can be inserted in to a rotation and not be a disaster are Okungwu, Vassell and Haliburton. Everyone else, who knows.

He seems like a 4? Well I think he very clearly is a 3.

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

I don't really agree with you in regards to Avdija. I see a lot of ways he can become more than a role player. For his size, his lateral quickness is above average. He is miles ahead of players like Michael Porter Jr, Gallinari obviously. And if Luka can move is feet so well when he wants to as he showed last night, I believe Deni can do so as well.

Honestly, I worry the least about his defense. I think it's one of his strongest suits.

What I'm more worried about is his finishing and craftiness around the rim. He is right hand dominant inside, and hasn't shown much diversity finishing over length. He has improved his in between game and floater game.

I'm also worried about his abiltiy to shoot on the move from behind the 3pt line. His mechanics are much more sound in spot up situations especially from he corners. When he has to adjust his body and square up for a catch and shoot, he struggles. He is way better off the dribble straight on.

What I love about him is his ability to rebound and run the fast break. He is exquisite at that for a guy his size. He runs like a gazelle and is very good at finding the open teammate as well as finishing in stride.

His ball handling is okay. He has shown good improvement in that area, and I think he will continue to improve that part of his game. Avdija is much better at creating opportunuties when he is in stride rather than a triple threat position. That is mainly because his 2nd,3rd step is better than his first step. He will need to understand how to use his long legs to create longer strides in order to create better separation. As well as improve his arsenal of moves.

Considering where we stand in the lottery, I think Deni is a good player in terms of fit and BPA. I'm not sold on him, and again, being Israeli is a risk in itself considering the history lol, but he is so young and has a lot of tools going in his favor, as well as the work ethic to improve, and I believe he is still growing, so considering all of that, I think he would be a good candidate for the Cavs.

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

DP

 

[Los216]

I get the argument for Deni's high floor (and I agree with it). But what's the argument for his high ceiling? Solid, experienced, well-rounded, versatile...these are all good adjectives for him. But where's the star potential? He doesn't have any outlier skills offensively, and while he's a good athlete it's not like he's a freak by NBA standards or anything. Seems like a roleplayer through and through.

I think the star potential comes with the further development of his already high floor and being able to effectively do that from three positions. SF, PF and Point Forward. If he was just solid as a. Then yes he’d just be a role player. But if he’s good at the 3 and causes problems for opposing teams at the 4 and has a point forward element to his game then that’s star potential. being able to effectively play 3 positions very well.

If he can be a 17/8/8 guy that plays the 3, can guard 4’s and be a matchup problem for them, and can play Point Forward effectively I think that’s star potential. I think the other players in the draft have too many other deficiencies to overcome to make it there. They either don’t have the size, skill, or loot game to excel at three different positions like that.

 

[Amherstcavsfan]

I wish I could take a side on the "Deni Wars" but unfortunately, I seriously doubt he makes it to 5 anyway.

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

I wish I could take a side on the "Deni Wars" but unfortunately, I seriously doubt he makes it to 5 anyway.

Looks to be going to the Bulls, ah?

 

[Amherstcavsfan]

Looks to be going to the Bulls, ah?

There are rumors that GSW like him a lot too.

I think it's not going to really matter. He fits well in both teams, I don't think he's making it to 5.

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

There are rumors that GSW like him a lot too.

I think it's not going to really matter. He fits well in both teams, I don't think he's making it to 5.

Still think he might. It's not certain at all that he won't. He is currently project 4/5, and still could slip.

I guess if he is gone by 5, I'll be leaning towards Onyeka. I'm afraid to take Okoro with the 5th pick. Heck, even if he is still there at 5, it would be almost impossibel for me to choose between Onyeka and him.

 

[Nathan S]

I don't really agree with you in regards to Avdija. I see a lot of ways he can become more than a role player. For his size, his lateral quickness is above average. He is miles ahead of players like Michael Porter Jr, Gallinari obviously. And if Luka can move is feet so well when he wants to as he showed last night, I believe Deni can do so as well.

Honestly, I worry the least about his defense. I think it's one of his strongest suits.

What I'm more worried about is his finishing and craftiness around the rim. He is right hand dominant inside, and hasn't shown much diversity finishing over length. He has improved his in between game and floater game.

I'm also worried about his abiltiy to shoot on the move from behind the 3pt line. His mechanics are much more sound in spot up situations especially from he corners. When he has to adjust his body and square up for a catch and shoot, he struggles. He is way better off the dribble straight on.

What I love about him is his ability to rebound and run the fast break. He is exquisite at that for a guy his size. He runs like a gazelle and is very good at finding the open teammate as well as finishing in stride.

His ball handling is okay. He has shown good improvement in that area, and I think he will continue to improve that part of his game. Avdija is much better at creating opportunuties when he is in stride rather than a triple threat position. That is mainly because his 2nd,3rd step is better than his first step. He will need to understand how to use his long legs to create longer strides in order to create better separation. As well as improve his arsenal of moves.

Considering where we stand in the lottery, I think Deni is a good player in terms of fit and BPA. I'm not sold on him, and again, being Israeli is a risk in itself considering the history lol, but he is so young and has a lot of tools going in his favor, as well as the work ethic to improve, and I believe he is still growing, so considering all of that, I think he would be a good candidate for the Cavs.

I basically agree with all of this, but the big point is I don't see him as a guy who's going to create offense in the halfcourt in the NBA. Not quite quick enough, not a quite crafty enough with his dribble, and not a good enough shooter off the dribble. He's a smart player who'll get buckets in transition, feel out the soft spots in the defense for sneaky baskets here and there, hit open 3's, and make sharp passes. But I can't imagine giving him the ball and asking him run the offense or create 1-on-1 vs. an NBA wing. He's shown well enough in Israel that those aren't his strengths.

I think the star potential comes with the further development of his already high floor and being able to effectively do that from three positions. SF, PF and Point Forward. If he was just solid as a. Then yes he’d just be a role player. But if he’s good at the 3 and causes problems for opposing teams at the 4 and has a point forward element to his game then that’s star potential. being able to effectively play 3 positions very well.

If he can be a 17/8/8 guy that plays the 3, can guard 4’s and be a matchup problem for them, and can play Point Forward effectively I think that’s star potential. I think the other players in the draft have too many other deficiencies to overcome to make it there. They either don’t have the size, skill, or loot game to excel at three different positions like that.

That's...8 assists you're talking about?? Uhhh...that's rather bold considering his career high is 7, lol. If we pencil in 8 assists per game for Okoro and Vassell too then this draft class is loaded!

 

[Los216]

I basically agree with all of this, but the big point is I don't see him as a guy who's going to create offense in the halfcourt in the NBA. Not quite quick enough, not a quite crafty enough with his dribble, and not a good enough shooter off the dribble. He's a smart player who'll get buckets in transition, feel out the soft spots in the defense for sneaky baskets here and there, hit open 3's, and make sharp passes. But I can't imagine giving him the ball and asking him run the offense or create 1-on-1 vs. an NBA wing. He's shown well enough in Israel that those aren't his strengths.



That's...8 assists you're talking about?? Uhhh...that's rather bold considering his career high is 7, lol. If we pencil in 8 assists per game for Okoro and Vassell too then this draft class is loaded!

8 assist as a ceiling if he reaches it.

 

[Randolphkeys]

I basically agree with all of this, but the big point is I don't see him as a guy who's going to create offense in the halfcourt in the NBA. Not quite quick enough, not a quite crafty enough with his dribble, and not a good enough shooter off the dribble. He's a smart player who'll get buckets in transition, feel out the soft spots in the defense for sneaky baskets here and there, hit open 3's, and make sharp passes. But I can't imagine giving him the ball and asking him run the offense or create 1-on-1 vs. an NBA wing. He's shown well enough in Israel that those aren't his strengths.

I go back to the two man game Love and Korver developed in the half court in 2017 and 2018. With his frame, knowing how to set a pick, come off picks, and pass gets you pretty far in half court sets. Dribbling the air out of the ball is overrated. When his three point percentage was floating around 40% halfway through the Israeli League, I saw Deni as a great fit for the sets Steve Kerr likes to use. The key will be his ability to consistently hit threes while closely guarded. I don't worry too much about the rest, especially at #5.

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

I basically agree with all of this, but the big point is I don't see him as a guy who's going to create offense in the halfcourt in the NBA. Not quite quick enough, not a quite crafty enough with his dribble, and not a good enough shooter off the dribble. He's a smart player who'll get buckets in transition, feel out the soft spots in the defense for sneaky baskets here and there, hit open 3's, and make sharp passes. But I can't imagine giving him the ball and asking him run the offense or create 1-on-1 vs. an NBA wing. He's shown well enough in Israel that those aren't his strengths.



That's...8 assists you're talking about?? Uhhh...that's rather bold considering his career high is 7, lol. If we pencil in 8 assists per game for Okoro and Vassell too then this draft class is loaded!

Who knows. Maybe in theory if he matched up against a strong SF all the time then he would perhaps have major diffculties. But optimally, he is a guy that should be played against players he has physical advantage against. So basically either SGs or PFs/C. Considering his ability to create offense from the post(assisting and scoring), I like his chances of being quite dominant against SGs in the post..

Against PFs/C he has enough natural talent and athletic advantage to create some kind of advantage offensively as the ball handler. I'm not saying that he will be able to produce above average .PPP, but with his skillset and physical tools, I do see Deni able to create defensive breakdowns and openings.

Some may consider him a tweener, but I view his size as a mismatch potential to make him better than he really is. I do think he will be able to defend 2-5 better than the opposition will be able to defend him and the Cavs as a team.