2020 NBA Draft: Deni Avdija wants to play for the Golden State Warriors

The Golden State Warriors are in a privileged position ahead of the 2020 NBA Draft. They don’t seem to be too worried about what they’re going to do with their 2nd overall pick, whether it’s using it or trading it away to land a bonafide, proven star.

The Warriors have a plethora of choices to go from at the top of the board. With Anthony Edwards likely gone when they’re on the clock, they could lean towards James Wiseman, Obi Toppin, LaMelo Ball, or move that pick in a deal to land an All-Star.

Then again, recent reports claim that they’ve been ‘blown away’ by Maccabi Tel Aviv standout Deni Avdija, a small forward with shades ofHedo Turkoglu,Dario Saric or even a poor man’s Toni Kukoc that could perfectly fit their current system.

2020 NBA Draft: Deni Avdija Would Prefer To Join The Golden State Warriors

And, according to Ethan Strauss of The Athletic, that preference seems to go both ways, as the Israel native would also rather be drafted by the Golden State Warriors instead of any other of his suitors:

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“So far, Avdija’s rumored preference is for the Warriors, and he’s undoubtedly not alone in that predilection. I don’t believe I’m hewing to hometown bias when I make the observation that the Warriors are unusually appealing among high draft pick teams, maybe historically so,” Strauss said.

“While it might have little bearing on how they actually perform next season, the Warriors are still perceived as a glamor franchise, blessed with championship pieces. That’s more appealing than the standard prospect path of toiling in obscurity until your team gets good enough,” he concluded.

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Avdija checks most of the boxes as a can’t-miss kind of player, even in this year’s slim and unprecedented draft class. He needs to develop a consistent jump shot and will struggle to stay in front of quicker players but has an elite basketball IQ and playmaking skills for a guy his size, and he has the highest upside in this year’s class according to most scouts, so he’s definitely worthy of the risk.