Need For A Breakout:

 Deni Avdija

By: Michael A. Chase Jr.

07/31/2023

For the Washington Wizards this coming 2023-2024 NBA season will be the beginning of their rebuilding process. New draft picks like Bilal Coulibaly and Tristan Vukcevic bring exciting possibilities, while off-season additions like Jordan Poole were met with excitement and some questions. Then you have young players like Deni Avdija who will try to establish their place in this rebuild. TUSV looks into Deni Avdija and the importance of his development to Washington's overall decision on where he fits into their plans.

Avdija, 22 years old, was drafted 9th overall in the first round of the 2020 NBA Draft. In three seasons the 6'9" 210lbs. forward has shown flashes of difference-making upside, while displaying just as much inconsistency. From scoring stretches that earned him the nickname "Turbo" last season to large stretches of underwhelming production, we've seen all sides of the Deni Avdija experience. This year he must take key steps both offensively and defensively in his development to prove he should be a part of the Wizards' future core.

On offense, Avdija did grow as an offensive player last year but must make strides in three key areas to meet the potential the franchise sees in him. The first area is improving as a three-point shooter. Last season Avdija shot a career low 29.7% from three after shooting north of 31% his first two seasons. This is only a 2% drop, but for Avdija he has to find his consistency with his three-point stroke to open up his offensive game. Consistency in the utilization of his legs on his shot and maintaining confidence to shoot are focuses for Avdija. If he can become north of a 34-36% shooter Avdija's value as a 3 & D wing will increase exponentially, making him a quality asset..

Avdija must also improve as a finisher, especially through traffic to better his production. At 6'9" his struggles at times finishing through contact were puzzling. But with another offseason to add muscle and work through drills, along with another season for the game to slow down mentally for him should also help. For a player with the build and underrated athleticism, Avdija has all the tools to up his career field goal percentage (43.1%). His ability as a slasher should not be overlooked as a valuable skill but he must find consistency in finishing to be a better offensive threat.

Then finally discovering his consistency as a scorer will be crucial for the Wizards this season and his career going forward. With a 9.2 career points per game average bouncing between both being a starter and bench player Avdija has been a solid secondary scorer. He showcased flashes of his potential as a scorer over multiple stretches last season. Avdija was able to score in double figures in 33 of his 76 games played. This included four different stretches of at least 4 games in double figures and six games where he scored at least 20+ points. His growth in aggressiveness and confidence to attack off the dribble was key to his improved scoring output. Now with more shot opportunities, an increased scoring effort should be expected. This coming season if Avdija can average around 12-14 points per game, while shooting above 35% from three and continuing to showcase his underrated playmaking skills he will become a desirable commodity for the Wizards to keep long term.

Now on the defensive end, Avdija has been solid in his first three NBA seasons. One could say he has been arguably their best perimeter defender the last two seasons. Avdija has been tasked many times with guarding the opponent's best player from night to night. From LeBron James to Jimmy Butler, to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander he has had to guard all forms of elite players. Despite this tough task he has held opponents to a 45.9% which may not seem impressive but looking deeper he has been awesome in some key spots. On shots greater than 15 feet opponents have shot just 36.9% in the last two years. This while holding opponents to 36.4% on three which is solid in a league with such heavy three-point volume. He does need to continue to stay away from cheap fouls while continuing to be better in positional defense to better handle quicker players. If he can grow into a trusted defensive stopper, that can be disruptive in the passing lanes that would be huge for his development. With the ability I believe to be an All-Defensive Team performer he must continue to take and excel against the challenges he will again be faced with.

Deni Avdija is a young forward with still plenty of untapped potential. A player who has made strides but must develop in some key areas to make himself an invaluable asset in the Wizards rebuild. There is no telling what the future holds for this young player but in the first year of Washington's rebuild, he must make a good first impression on the new front office for certain.