Deni Avdija

[Dolevi]

Wizraeli I don't get your point with the "Deni fans" man.
I'm Israeli too my name is Dolev.
It's no secret Deni is not looking good, not in the level offensivly. Sure, the problem may be mental, may be with the atmosphere and roles inside the locker room. It's a crappy situation indeed. I believe Deni can be a very good player in the future. He already can impact the game on defense (though that and running are his only abilities, also sometimes playmaking as long as he doesn't turnover the ball), appreciate it. He gets minutes and the Wizards planning to build him in the future. Right now, no, but Deni also has a part in that reason the Wizards don't give him the keys. He's not there yet. Mostly mentally. Even by offensive talent of scoring. So just leave it alone and hope things will be good. It's up to Deni. No one will give him presents. I agree with Doc and I have high expectations from Deni - even in this situation, he needs to do better. He'll have the same defenders in the league wherever he'll go and he needs to face them no matter which club he'll play for. And he'll have some talented gifted players in each roster he plays for. That's the truth. He needs to show he has talent as well.
And maybe maybe also if he won't show it, and he keeps with his defense and passing, just that alone may be enough to him stay in the league, just 'role' player at max and it's totally fine.

[Wizraeli]

Wizraeli I don't get your point with the "Deni fans" man.
...No one will give him presents....Wizards don't give him the keys...

I don't agree with the attitude of generalizing "Deni fans" as a group of people demanding the Wizards to make Deni the new leading star of the team, simply because that's not what I see happening here in this forum, and your comment only emphasis that, I'm part of this "Deni fans" group, and so are you, so when I see doclinkin talk this way I comment about it, very simple.

Maybe you don't get the point because you're doing the exact same thing as doclinkin, when did I ever said he needs to get presents? where did I say the Wizards needs to give him the keys or give him any special treatment? I've said many times he got equal responsibility for his situation and he needs to be less passive, I just don't agree with the opinion that he's the only one that's responsible, asking for a team to play for a young player's strengths instead of forcing him to become something that he's not is not asking for special treatment, it's just pure logic and what's usually happens in healthy teams with an organized game plan, the Wizards isn't an healthy team and definitely doesn't have an organized game plan and the results shows it.

So just leave it alone and hope things will be good

Nothing any of us say here will really influence Deni or the team, we talk for the talk and to blow off steam, so it doesn't matter if I'll leave it alone or not, it won't change Deni's future, but since this is a place where I can express my opinion I do it just like you, and my opinion is that I don't want to see Deni become the next Dragan Bender, because he got a lot more potential(and work ethic), if we'll look at his stats and how he's being used this is exactly where he's going so I have a problem with that, some of the blame is on him, I wish he would be more aggressive and less placate with his teammates, but some of the blame is also on the coach, it's his team, he's responsible to what's going on with it, the good things as well as the bad ones.

[Kanyewest]

Deni had a good night, got some buckets in the paint, made a couple of 3s. Aside from a turnover or two, a very good night for him.

[badinage]

Great game.

When the ball’s in his hands — I’m not saying when he’s playing point — but when he’s getting a chance to swing it, or drive and kick, or drive … when he’s touching the ball and not just standing in the mf’ing corner … the offense works; we look good.

[Wizraeli]

Players are longer faster and more athletic. He can't blow past them. Fake them out. Outjump them

Just Deni being too short and too slow for the NBA:

[Dolevi]

Wizraeli I don't get your point with the "Deni fans" man.
...No one will give him presents....Wizards don't give him the keys...

I don't agree with the attitude of generalizing "Deni fans" as a group of people demanding the Wizards to make Deni the new leading star of the team, simply because that's not what I see happening here in this forum, and your comment only emphasis that, I'm part of this "Deni fans" group, and so are you, so when I see doclinkin talk this way I comment about it, very simple.

Maybe you don't get the point because you're doing the exact same thing as doclinkin, when did I ever said he needs to get presents? where did I say the Wizards needs to give him the keys or give him any special treatment? I've said many times he got equal responsibility for his situation and he needs to be less passive, I just don't agree with the opinion that he's the only one that's responsible, asking for a team to play for a young player's strengths instead of forcing him to become something that he's not is not asking for special treatment, it's just pure logic and what's usually happens in healthy teams with an organized game plan, the Wizards isn't an healthy team and definitely doesn't have an organized game plan and the results shows it.

So just leave it alone and hope things will be good

Nothing any of us say here will really influence Deni or the team, we talk for the talk and to blow off steam, so it doesn't matter if I'll leave it alone or not, it won't change Deni's future, but since this is a place where I can express my opinion I do it just like you, and my opinion is that I don't want to see Deni become the next Dragan Bender, because he got a lot more potential(and work ethic), if we'll look at his stats and how he's being used this is exactly where he's going so I have a problem with that, some of the blame is on him, I wish he would be more aggressive and less placate with his teammates, but some of the blame is also on the coach, it's his team, he's responsible to what's going on with it, the good things as well as the bad ones.

Offcourse it's not just on him, I wrote it. But he has a part at it as well. Agree with you about the potential.
See the game he had last night, why ain't he shoot like that with confidence everygame? and drive hard like that every game? He's unstable.

[Dolevi]

Players are longer faster and more athletic. He can't blow past them. Fake them out. Outjump them

Just Deni being too short and too slow for the NBA:

It doesn't happen enough. He needs more consistency and play like that every night.

[Wizraeli]

Players are longer faster and more athletic. He can't blow past them. Fake them out. Outjump them

Just Deni being too short and too slow for the NBA:

It doesn't happen enough. He needs more consistency and play like that every night.

Yes, also I don't want to be greedy but I wish he would have dunk that.

[payitforward]

All in all, even though no one would wish to project him as "a 3-&-D guy," to be productive in the NBA Deni is going to have to shoot the 3 at a respectable %. It's a must; it's the nature of the NBA game. & there's no reason he can't do it -- his shot doesn't look broken.

Otherwise, Deni is already a well above average NBA 3: his 2-pt. % is above average, & so is his FT%. He's an excellent rebounder, & he logs assists at an above average rate as well.

I do note that Deni's turnovers are up significantly (percentage-wise) this year. In fact, the same is true of Rui & Kuzma. & even of KP & a couple of other guys. So maybe that's not about him in particular.

Again, he doesn't have to be a 3-point specialist, but he has to be a fair amount better than he is.

[doclinkin]

Players are longer faster and more athletic. He can't blow past them. Fake them out. Outjump them

Just Deni being too short and too slow for the NBA:

HA! Good one

[badinage]

All in all, even though no one would wish to project him as "a 3-&-D guy," to be productive in the NBA Deni is going to have to shoot the 3 at a respectable %. It's a must; it's the nature of the NBA game. & there's no reason he can't do it -- his shot doesn't look broken.

Otherwise, Deni is already a well above average NBA 3: his 2-pt. % is above average, & so is his FT%. He's an excellent rebounder, & he logs assists at an above average rate as well.

I do note that Deni's turnovers are up significantly (percentage-wise) this year. In fact, the same is true of Rui & Kuzma. & even of KP & a couple of other guys. So maybe that's not about him in particular.

Again, he doesn't have to be a 3-point specialist, but he has to be a fair amount better than he is.

I think it’s becoming more and more apparent that the kid’s a 4. And that if the team wants to use him correctly, they will slot him at the 4 and maximize what he does best — what he IS. A guy who can board, play stout D and move inside and out on D, make plays, push pace, and (at the moment, even without the offensive game that I think is slowly coming) can get you 12-14.

He’s not a small forward. He’s not a 3 and D.

What he is, is unusual: a point power forward.

I guarantee you that Steve Kerr would know what to do with him. Put Deni in a motion offense with lots of cuts, and let him do his thing on the glass and on D, and see what you have: a hugely valuable piece who — it needs to be pointed out — is still just 22 … still developing.

[Dolevi]

All in all, even though no one would wish to project him as "a 3-&-D guy," to be productive in the NBA Deni is going to have to shoot the 3 at a respectable %. It's a must; it's the nature of the NBA game. & there's no reason he can't do it -- his shot doesn't look broken.

Otherwise, Deni is already a well above average NBA 3: his 2-pt. % is above average, & so is his FT%. He's an excellent rebounder, & he logs assists at an above average rate as well.

I do note that Deni's turnovers are up significantly (percentage-wise) this year. In fact, the same is true of Rui & Kuzma. & even of KP & a couple of other guys. So maybe that's not about him in particular.

Again, he doesn't have to be a 3-point specialist, but he has to be a fair amount better than he is.

I think it’s becoming more and more apparent that the kid’s a 4. And that if the team wants to use him correctly, they will slot him at the 4 and maximize what he does best — what he IS. A guy who can board, play stout D and move inside and out on D, make plays, push pace, and (at the moment, even without the offensive game that I think is slowly coming) can get you 12-14.

He’s not a small forward. He’s not a 3 and D.

What he is, is unusual: a point power forward.

I guarantee you that Steve Kerr would know what to do with him. Put Deni in a motion offense with lots of cuts, and let him do his thing on the glass and on D, and see what you have: a hugely valuable piece who — it needs to be pointed out — is still just 22 … still developing.

100%
Tell Wes.

[pancakes3]

Deni def has the highest upside out of all the players on the team. plenty of PFs for him to pattern his game around, as a basket-facing PF with coast-to-coast handles. Dray, Julius Randle, Siakam, etc.

[payitforward]

All in all, even though no one would wish to project him as "a 3-&-D guy," to be productive in the NBA Deni is going to have to shoot the 3 at a respectable %. It's a must; it's the nature of the NBA game. & there's no reason he can't do it -- his shot doesn't look broken.

Otherwise, Deni is already a well above average NBA 3: his 2-pt. % is above average, & so is his FT%. He's an excellent rebounder, & he logs assists at an above average rate as well.

I do note that Deni's turnovers are up significantly (percentage-wise) this year. In fact, the same is true of Rui & Kuzma. & even of KP & a couple of other guys. So maybe that's not about him in particular.

Again, he doesn't have to be a 3-point specialist, but he has to be a fair amount better than he is.

I think it’s becoming more and more apparent that the kid’s a 4. And that if the team wants to use him correctly, they will slot him at the 4 and maximize what he does best — what he IS. A guy who can board, play stout D and move inside and out on D, make plays, push pace, and (at the moment, even without the offensive game that I think is slowly coming) can get you 12-14.

He’s not a small forward. He’s not a 3 and D.

What he is, is unusual: a point power forward.

I guarantee you that Steve Kerr would know what to do with him. Put Deni in a motion offense with lots of cuts, and let him do his thing on the glass and on D, and see what you have: a hugely valuable piece who — it needs to be pointed out — is still just 22 … still developing.

100%
Tell Wes.

Make that 1000% -- great post, badinage.

[The Consiglieri]

One exciting note. At the time of the draft a majority of the board wanted Halliburton and they were right in their evaluation, I was fine w/Deni simply because we got value ((projected to go 4ish, he slipped to us) and upside. Now 2 years later people are already writing up the ‘20 class as the worst class since the horror show that was the class of 2000. Kind of amazing that we are one of the few teams that left that horrid draft w/actual nba level usable talent.

[payitforward]

One exciting note. At the time of the draft a majority of the board wanted Halliburton and they were right in their evaluation, I was fine w/Deni simply because we got value ((projected to go 4ish, he slipped to us) and upside. Now 2 years later people are already writing up the ‘20 class as the worst class since the horror show that was the class of 2000. Kind of amazing that we are one of the few teams that left that horrid draft w/actual nba level usable talent.

I just made a similar point in the tommy thread. But you present it more clearly & it's a good point.

[Kanyewest]

Deni Avdija's undeniable defensive impact https://www.nba.com/wizards/news/deni-avdijas-undeniable-defensive-impact

[tontoz]

Early in the season I had some optimism that deni would start to show some improvement on offense. That optimism is fading fast.

[Dolevi]

Early in the season I had some optimism that deni would start to show some improvement on offense. That optimism is fading fast.

You can't be disappointed if you have no expectations.

[9 and 20]

Next trade deadline - Deni to the Lakers for Dennis Schroeder and 3 more second round picks, going out to 2035. In 2035, Wizards draft one of Boston Dynamics' sentient robots, trying one more time to win over the Japanese market, with their love of all things robot-related. Mr. Roboto ends up eating Terd Leonsis' ugly sweater, leaving Terd's saggy man-boobs out in the open on CSN (since he still won't join in the movement to stream games online). Japanese fans recall the Rui betrayal from a decade before and shower naked skinny Terd and his evil robot with pilfered urinal cakes.