Chicago Bulls Draft Profiles: Who is Deni Avdija?

The fast-rising Israeli-Serbian prospect is intriguing but would he be a good fit with the Bulls’ current core?

Of the names that are often connected to the Chicago Bulls, Israeli-Serbian forward Deni Avdija is the name that the average fans usually know the least about. Avdija is 19-years-old and despite some modest statistics, has had an extremely impressive youth career that has helped build up a considerable reputation for the youngster.

Over 59 games (2019–20 season Euroleague + I-BSL competitions), Avdija has averaged 9.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game on 50.5% from the field, 33.3% from the 3PT line. While those figures might not look draft lottery-worthy, they reflect what makes Avdija so impressive. He is a jack-of-all-trades that figures to improve a lineup by his mere presence on the floor.

Those solid percentages added up to a very good 59.1% True shooting percentage for Avdija despite the poor free-throw shooting. Translation: There is much room for improvement despite the fact that he is already an impressive player.

When you watch Avdija, a few things are noticeable from the jump:

— He has great footwork, as shown on his step-back and side-step jumpers. His attention to detail in this department helps him be a real threat coming off of down screens and pin down screens. He’s not an advanced shot-maker but his 59.1% True shooting percentage in the 2019–20 season backs up what you see on tape: a player who takes smart shots, within the flow of the offense.

— While Avdija’s 2.0 assists per game won’t fool you into thinking he is the next Larry Bird, he does make some nice reads for a player with his combination of size and shooting ability. His passing affords him positional versatility as much as anything:

— Avdija isn’t extremely quick but has a solid understanding of help defense, which leads to the occasional, impressive steal/block (0.6 steals, 0.6 blocks per game in 2019–20):

Deni Avdija is a clear “tweener” but that should not be as much of a concern considering the makeup of today’s NBA. In Chicago Avdija would be able to provide ample minutes at either of the forward spots. He is an unselfish player with a burgeoing jump shot and he would have no problem playing next to Zach LaVine or Lauri Markkanen. He may not be a game-changer right away but I feel that Avdija will end up being an advanced stats darling. Avdija makes enough team-first plays to have a positive impact on the floor at all times.

Any worries about Avdija that is connected to a potential logjam at the forward spots with Otto Porter Jr., Chandler Hutchison, Thaddeus Young, and Markkanen should be thrown out the window.

For a team such as the Bulls — coming off of a 22-win season — no player (besides LaVine) has a right to demand a starting spot and/or reject the notion of an open competition for the starting role. Deni Avdija wouldn’t solve all of the Bulls’ problems but he is a player with a winning pedigree and a professional playing background that likely means a smaller adjustment period to NBA basketball.