Steve Kerr and other members of the Warriors organization worked out Maccabi Tel Aviv prospect Deni Avdija on Thursday morning in Atlanta, according to sources. By all accounts, it was a positive get together, one in which the 19-year-old Israeli impressed observers. Not only did Avdija perform well in the workouts, but Warriors officials were blown away after meeting with him. The universal takeaway was that he’s a “great kid” with an immense work ethic.
With the 2020 NBA Draft less than a month away, the Warriors are still in their information-gathering phase. While it is not clear whether they are considering taking Avdija at pick No. 2 or to trade down to take him later, the meeting itself reveals something. If the Warriors were dead set on trading the No. 2 pick for veteran help, they would not schlep out all the way to Atlanta, where Avdija is based right now. The option of getting and developing a young player is clearly on the table.
It is a bit unclear what role Avdija could conceivably take on for the Warriors if selected. He’s a large wing (recently listed at 6-foot-9, 210 pounds) with an above-average handle, qualities that might overlap with what Draymond Green and Eric Paschall do on offense. At the same time, this current Warriors roster has a relative dearth of playmakers, and Avdija has shown an ability to create off of the bounce. Though his Maccabi role has not been expansive, Avdija was trusted as the ball handler in pick-and-roll situations. If he can succeed in that role at the next level, it could open up avenues for the Warriors to get Steph Curry the ball, as opposed to leaning on him to create so much. The same can be said for Avdija’s transition abilities. At Maccabi, Avdija would often find offense in coast-to-coast attacks, a skill that could prove quite useful for a Warriors team that loves to spread the floor and run.
Avdija has also demonstrated a penchant for post-ups, which has been a void in the Warriors offense, among many, since Kevin Durant left for Brooklyn. Though the Warriors also currently have a hole at the center spot, which could be filled by, say, James Wiseman, an Avdija selection might be aimed at addressing the versatility that’s been lost over the last couple years. Without Andre Iguodala and other pass-first veterans, the Warriors sure didn’t play like “the Warriors” in 2019-20. Yes, it’s suboptimal for a Western Conference squad to be small at the five spot when going to war with Anthony Davis and Nikola Jokić, but the past dynastic run was propelled by that aforementioned versatility. An Avdija selection would be an attempt at propelling the offense forward, while returning it to the glory days of the not-so-distant past.
That might be getting too far ahead of the plot, though. For now, the Warriors just want to make sure they’re getting the best player available in a draft that’s shrouded in mystery. That process included flying to Atlanta to workout a teenager from Israel.
and versatility allowed the Warriors to play small and not lose anything defensively or offensively. especially after 2016 because Dray forgot how to shoot and his defense don't make up for that. Plus he's not the same defender or capable of playing that way over a full season. 
if we get this Euro fukk and he is typical Mario Henzo Euro trash Myers should be on the 1st flight out
. Shoulda neva let the OG Jerry West go shyt been shakey ever since