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Maccabi Tel Aviv forward and projected top-five pick Deni Avdija had an in-person workout with the San Antonio Spurs in Atlanta a week ago, according to Forbes Sports reporter Chris Grenham.
Deni Avdija had an in-person workout with the Spurs last week in Atlanta, according to sources.
— Chris Grenham (@chrisgrenham) November 2, 2020
Celtics do not have any plans for an in-person workout with Avdija at this point, for those wondering.
NBA teams are only allowed ten in-person visits with no more than two visits per prospect this draft cycle, so while this could be PATFO doing their due diligence, it could also indicate some interest in trading up to select the talented Israeli teenager.
The NBA is allowing teams to begin conducting in-person meetings (medical evaluation, workout) with 2020 Draft prospects from Oct. 16-Nov. 16, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. Teams receiving up to two visits per player; no more than 10 total among prospects.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 12, 2020
Head coach Gregg Popovich first met Avdija in August 2018 at a Basketball Without Borders Europe boys camp in Belgrade, Serbia, where Deni took home MVP honors.
'Basketball without borders' camp MVP - Maccabi's Deni Avdija pic.twitter.com/oMS8FTWO6n
— Maccabi Tel Aviv BC (@MaccabitlvBC) August 18, 2018
The Sports Rabbi has confirmed that The San Antonio Spurs sent scouts to watch Avdija play against Hapoel Halol in the Israeli Basketball Premier League last December.
A San Antonio Spurs scout is at the Maccabi Tel Aviv game tonight to watch Deni Avdija. Without Casspi and only 8 rotation players there’s a good chance he will see Avdija for 30 minutes. https://t.co/u2FvEZo3Id
— Sports Rabbi (@thesportsrabbi) December 8, 2019
Whether or not San Antonio plans to try and trade up to pick Deni Avdija early into the 2020 NBA Draft is unknown, though Spurs fans would likely be thrilled if PATFO could pull such a transaction off.