Deni Avdija this year

[durantbird]

All around contributor, team player, two-way monster.

24.1 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 3.9 APG, 36.0% 3PT, 46.5% FG.

Best player for Portland - leading scorer, second best facilitator (after Holiday), second best rebounder (after Clingan). Leader of their gritty defense-first and team-first identity. They're 5W-3L record right now.

What is his ceiling? Can he be an All Star this year? (format isn't clear though, let's ask - should he?)

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[UcanUwill]

Yeah, he became one of my favorite players. I remember being very low on him at the draft. 8 international players can be all stars this year, I think theres a chance, Portland has a lot of winning players, they are like reversed Kings.

[zimpy27]

Close to all star level to me. He's been great.

Problem is that a lot of players have put up gaudy numbers to start the season. Not sure if he'd be in the top 25.

[pipfan]

I remember my Bulls were looking at him when we picked PWill-we certainly missed that one!

Good for him, and Port. If there are only 8 international players who will be All Stars, it'll be tough. Wemby/Luka/Jokic/SGA/Giannis obvious wraps
Lots of other names in the mix, Sengun, Deni, Giddey, Franz, JMurray, Sabonis, Siakam, Lauri all good candidates so far

Man, a 12 man international squad would destroy the American team
SGA/Giddey
Luka/JMurray
Giannis/Deni or Franz
Wemby/Siakam or Lauri
Jokic/Sabonis or Sengun

I'm sure I'm missing a few-but that's A LOT of talent

[Jimmy Recard]

I think he’s an all star this year. He was great last season too after a rough start but he looks like a legit star this season. Still only 24 and by far the best contract in the league.

[Pattycakes]

He finished last year on an all star level and many figured it would carry over and it did.

[Andri]

IMO he is not just a player that has caught fire. He has the bag full of tricks. He can shoot, create off the dribble, pass... So I think his improvement is solid and sustainable

[Infinite Llamas]

The most underrated player in the association

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

The most underrated player in the association

This pretty much sums it up.

What's not to like about a 6-8 SF who can do everything on the court while playing great defense consistently while guarding 1-4 and 5s in a pinch? He's also on an amazing contract and only 24.

That said, he still doesn't even look like he's played that great this season, his TOs are high, but he's still putting 24-6-5 on a 62 TS%. He's usually slow to start the seasons too. I think he's going to surprise people with another gear up as the season progresses.

[Texas Chuck]

He's in my pile of crow. I thought he would be a solid defender who struggled too much offensively to stay on the court.

I was wrong. So wrong.

[Indomitable]

All around contributor, team player, two-way monster.

24.1 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 3.9 APG, 36.0% 3PT, 46.5% FG.

Best player for Portland - leading scorer, second best facilitator (after Holiday), second best rebounder (after Clingan). Leader of their gritty defense-first and team-first identity. They're 5W-3L record right now.

What is his ceiling? Can he be an All Star this year? (format isn't clear though, let's ask - should he?)

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Under values in the fantasy leagues.

[zzaj]

The most underrated player in the association

This pretty much sums it up.

What's not to like about a 6-8 SF who can do everything on the court while playing great defense consistently while guarding 1-4 and 5s in a pinch? He's also on an amazing contract and only 24.

That said, he still doesn't even look like he's played that great this season, his TOs are high, but he's still putting 24-6-5 on a 62 TS%. He's usually slow to start the seasons too. I think he's going to surprise people with another gear up as the season progresses.[/quote]



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Certainly hope you are right about the gearing up...we Portland fans do worry about him playing through the summer and what affect that will have.

He's been given the green light as a facilitator with Scoot out...and so far it's a mixed bag. His passing leaves A LOT to be desired, especially live dribble reads. He can get a bit of "Play-lock" where he waits for certain things to develop and completely misses open guys, or looks for his own and tries passing out way too late which results in TOs. My hope is his passing takes a step up along with his 3pt consistency.

My only other gripe is that if he doesn't get a call after one of his 'Turbo' drives, he tends to argue on the ground. This often leads to 5 on 4 transition situations. The Blazers haven't been great in transition defense for a long time, and Deni on the ground chirping about non-calls doesn't help that.

Great player though...hope the Blazers are able to keep him with that low contract. That may be tough...

[ATLTimekeeper]

17.8 drives a game. He's carrying that team.

[JRoy]

Deni has a pretty strong driving game. He mixes it up and has a knack for hesitation moves that can throw a defenders timing off.

He can get himself into trouble driving when there isn’t an opening, turning it over, forcing a shot or failing down and creating a 5 on 4 break going the other way.

He competes on d and is very handsy, which can result in steals or deflections along with fouls.

His shooting is hit or miss, doesn’t shoot much in the midrange but gets himself to the line.

There is alot to like especially on that contract.

Love him on POR, he’d be great on OKC.

[WiggOuts]

what the **** was WAS thinking, they got a decent return at the time but i dont think they expected Deni to become this

[ibraheim718]

#1508 » by ibraheim718 » Fri Dec 18, 2020 3:27 am

HEZI wrote:
That beast Deni Avdija

32 minutes
3-8
0-4
7 points
-7

I think he has the chance to be the best player of the draft. To me he pops off the screen. He's quick with the ball.. can dribble drive with both hands equally good.. he's a tremendous passer.. flawless mechanics on his jumper.. if you watched the first half of that game he literally makes an impact in every facet of the game. You guys can save this post and quote me on it in a few years.

[BlazersBroncos]

He is legit a low tier #2 on a contending team. He is that good.

Portland is a good team. If Sharpe can at least get back to 24/25 efficiency and Scoot comes back as an adequate backup for Jrue (And he has the potential still to be quite a bit more than that) then the Blazers can legit fight for a 4-6 seed in the West IMO.

[Billl]

If he keeps this up AND portland as a team keeps this up, he's got a really strong case for the all-star team. I'm more confident in him keeping this level than the team though. And of course, it's not unusual for guys to make the team the year after they actually deserved it.

[chilluminati]

I would have never put Deni Avdija playing like an all star on my bingo card, but it looks like a lot of us didn't see this sudden spike in improvement coming from him. Kudos to the Blazers. Trading for him was truly the right call. They gave up the pick that became Bub Carrington and another in 2029, plus Brogdon (who was clearly done with basketball) for the ability for Portland to get out of lux tax and take a chance on Deni. Unless that 2029 pick turns out to be a crazy player, this deal was insane for Portland.

[Infinite Llamas]

#1508 » by ibraheim718 » Fri Dec 18, 2020 3:27 am

HEZI wrote:
That beast Deni Avdija

32 minutes
3-8
0-4
7 points
-7

I think he has the chance to be the best player of the draft. To me he pops off the screen. He's quick with the ball.. can dribble drive with both hands equally good.. he's a tremendous passer.. flawless mechanics on his jumper.. if you watched the first half of that game he literally makes an impact in every facet of the game. You guys can save this post and quote me on it in a few years.

I rank him higher than lamelo so that only leaves Edwards/Hali/Maxey in front of him from 2020.