Avdija is officially ruled out for today’s matchup due to a low back strain. He suited up in Portland’s most recent loss in New York and remains a critical piece of the rotation. His availability could play a significant role as the Blazers attempt to bounce back after one of their most lopsided defeats of the season.

Portland’s injury report also includes Jrue Holiday, who is out for personal reasons, Robert Williams III, listed as questionable while managing a left knee issue, and Blake Wesley, who remains questionable with a right foot fracture. The Blazers will need depth and discipline if they hope to compete against one of the Eastern Conference’s most consistent teams.

Cavaliers dealing with key absences

Cleveland will also be shorthanded, as Evan Mobley and Darius Garland remain out of the lineup. Guard Craig Porter Jr. is listed as questionable with left knee soreness, leaving the Cavaliers thinner than usual in their backcourt rotation.

Despite those absences, Cleveland enters the matchup as a dangerous opponent. Teams often struggle in their first game back home after a lengthy road trip, and Portland will look to avoid that pitfall against a Cavaliers group that recently reshaped its roster.

Cleveland traded De’Andre Hunter to the Sacramento Kings in a deal that brought Keon Ellis and Dennis Schröder to the roster, with the Chicago Bulls also involved in the transaction.

The Cavaliers are coming off a loss to the Phoenix Suns and will be motivated to respond as they aim to remain among the top contenders in the NBA Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, Portland continues to show flashes of growth and competitiveness, but sustaining that progress will depend heavily on keeping its core players healthy and available.

According to the official NBA injury report, Avdija is listed as available to play on Friday night. His availability could significantly influence Portland’s offensive rhythm and defensive versatility.

The Trail Blazers enter the contest holding a 23-25 record, placing them ninth in the Western Conference standings. Meanwhile, the Knicks arrive with a 29-18 mark, sitting second in the Eastern Conference. Portland hopes to have Avdija active as they attempt to pull off an upset against one of the NBA East’s top teams, but his status remains unclear as game time approaches.

What happened to Avdija?

Avdija has been managing a lingering back issue that forced him to exit a 127-110 victory over the Miami Heat on Jan. 22 after just 18 minutes. He later returned following a two-game absence, logging 31 minutes in a 115-111 loss against the Washington Wizards. In that outing, he recorded 17 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, and one block while shooting 42.9% from the field.

Despite having several days of rest since his return, Deni Avdija continues to carry a questionable tag, signaling that Portland remains cautious with his recovery.

His recent performances suggest he can still be productive, but the team prioritizes long-term health over short-term urgency given their position in the standings.

Historically, Avdija has appeared in 16 career games against the Knicks, averaging 14.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists. Since joining Portland, he has elevated his production considerably, posting averages of 28.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 4.3 assists across three outings, underscoring why his potential absence would be a notable factor for the Trail Blazers.

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:

“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.

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.

We’ve seen countless hours of prospects footage over the past couple of years. But this year’s atypical season took a toll on plenty of the prospects’ chances to showcase their abilities, as the NCAA Tourney was canceled.

Even so, NBA scouts are going to continue undergoing their thorough scouting of the young men that are bound to take the league for assault after the 2020 NBA Draft. But who are those top-5 prospects bound to become superstars?

In the following paragraphs, we’re going to show you everything there is to know about the top 5 prospects of the 2020 NBA Draft. Strengths, weaknesses, NBA comparison, and the better fit for them.

Honorable mentions: Kilian Hayes, Cole Anthony,Tyrese Haliburton,Onyeka Okongwu

5. Deni Avdija

College: International, Israel
Position: Small Forward
NBA Comparison: Toni Kukoc
Better Fit: Atlanta Hawks

Deni Avdija’s draft stock has risen lately and for very good reasons. Like most European prospects, Avdija has already plenty of experience under his belt and a well-developed basketball IQ. He knows how to get to his spots and his size (6’9”) allows him to play and guard multiple spots from the shooting guard to the power forward.

He’s got a well-roundgame and can do a little bit of everything on both ends of the floor. He’s a solid playmaker who knows how to pick apart opposing defenses in real-time and find the open guy every time out there and can create his own shot with ease.

On the downside, Avdija has a subpar athleticism and wingspan for his size. He also tends to struggle in the halfcourt and lacks the explosiveness you’d want out of an NBA-caliber scorer. He’d be a perfect complement for Trae Youngand the Atlanta Hawks thanks to his ability to draw double teams and play on and off the ball.

4. Obi Toppin

College: Dayton, Sophomore
Position: Power Forward
NBA Comparison: Kenyon Martin
Better Fit: Minnesota Timberwolves

No other prospect has risen through big boards like Obi Toppin, the human highlight. He came out of the blue to impress with his freakish athleticism, NBA-ready body, strength, and hops. He’s a never-ending source of energy that will finish through contact and dominate above the rim.

Toppin played some five in college and there isn’t a reason to think he couldn’t hold his own below the rim vs. NBA centers, although he gives up some size sitting at just 6’9”. He also excels out of the pick-and-roll and even showed glimpses of a promising post offense.

Even so, Toppin needs to become a more consistent jump shooter if he wants to make it in today’s NBA. He lacks the range of modern power forwards and tends to struggle guarding quicker players. His intensity and grit would be much welcome with the Minnesota Timberwolves as he could take some pressure off of Karl-Anthony Towns.

3. James Wiseman

College: Memphis, Freshman
Position: Center
NBA Comparison: DeAndre Jordan
Better Fit: Golden State Warriors

James Wiseman was considered the consensus 1st-overall pick of the 2020 NBA Draft before college hoops season started. He was suspended by the NCAA and he decided to sit out the remainder of the season and work out for the Draft, which is obviously a concern given the lack of footage.

Wiseman is as strong as they come. He’s an elite finisher and rebounder on both ends of the glass. He also has the size (7’1”), wingspan, athleticism,and muscle to dominate right away in the league, and proved to be incredibly efficient as a roll man. There’s no denying in Wiseman’s talents and potential to become one of the most disruptive defenders in the league.

However, he tends to overdo things as a rim protector and that often makes him fall for pump fakes and get into foul trouble. His offense is limited, to say the least, which may hurt any modern big man. Even so, he’d be perfect to anchor the Golden State Warriors‘ defense down low, especially considering the fact that they usually play their centers around 20 minutes a night.

2. LaMelo Ball

College: International, USA
Position: Point Guard / Shooting Guard
NBA Comparison: Jamal Crawford
Better Fit: New York Knicks

As talented as controversial and he is, LaMelo Ball may be the best prospect in this year’s class. He’s used to being in the spotlight and is the kind of player who will never back down or hesitate to take a big shot or make a risky play. Offensive-wise, this young man has the whole package.

LaMelo has elite handles and shot-creating ability. He’s got an outstanding court vision and unlimited range as a shooter. He’s also got the size (6’8”) to play both guard spots and even some small forward, although he must bulk up if he doesn’t want to struggle at the NBA level.

On the downside, Ball’s shot selection is a huge concern. He wants to showcase his skills on every play, especially in isolation, which makes him prone to making avoidable mistakes. There are also serious concerns about whether he’ll ever be an average defender but he’s still too talented to overlook. The New York Knicks have been looking for a franchise player and starting point guard for years and LaMelo might as well be it, as long as they pair him with Frank Ntilikina’s defensive grittiness in the backcourt.

1. Anthony Edwards

College: Georgia, Freshman
Position: Shooting Guard
NBA Comparison: Dwyane Wade
Better Fit: Cleveland Cavaliers

Anthony Edwards sits atop of most mock drafts right now. Most people see him as the consensus 1st-overall pick of the 2020 NBA Draft after watching him dominate and steal most of the headlines during his lone season at Georgia.

Edwards is an impressive athlete that can play both guard spots. He’s got an NBA-ready body and a competitive mindset that certainly impressed most scouts, as well as his ability to post up and bully opposing players when driving through the lane. He’s also got an impressive basketball IQ, especially when double-teamed, and is a willing passer and solid shot-blocker and rebounder for his position.

Honestly, Edward’s game doesn’t have many flaws. He does have to work on his free-throw shooting (shot less than 60% from the stripe) and should know how to make the most of his athletic traits to dominate inside the paint instead of constantly pulling up. He’s almost a lock to join the Warriors if they land the 1st pick but he’d be the perfect guy to build around if you’re the Cleveland Cavaliers.