CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers want a closer look at Israeli swingman Deni Avdija, who could be in the running for one of the top picks in the 2020 NBA Draft.

General manager Koby Altman is headed overseas this week, spending about six days on the road to watch Maccabi Tel Aviv’s 6-foot-9 mystery man, sources tell cleveland.com. Avdija, who plays for Maccabi in both the Israeli Premier League and the EuroLeague, was named the FIBA Under-20 European Championship’s MVP last summer, leading the Israeli Under-20 junior national team to a gold medal.

The teenager typically gets more playing time, freedom and a bigger role in the Israeli league, which isn’t as competitive as the EuroLeague. That’s one of the many questions scouts and executives will have to parse through ahead of the 2020 draft.

In 23 EuroLeague games -- playing on a team that features former NBA players Omri Casspi, Tyler Dorsey, Othello Hunter, Tarik Black and Quincy Acy, along with EuroLeague standout Scottie Wilbekin -- Avdija is averaging just 4.2 points on 47.4% shooting and 35.1% from 3-point range to go with 2.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists while playing 13.6 minutes. Over the last two games, both wins, Avdija’s playing time has increased -- and the production has followed.

In the I-BSL, the teenager’s numbers are better, averaging 12.2 points on 56.6% shooting and 41.7% from beyond the arc to go with 6.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 blocks while playing 26.4 minutes.

The Cavs -- and other teams around the NBA -- continue to do their homework. Altman’s upcoming trip, which allows him to return in time for college basketball conference tournaments, is further evidence.

Earlier this season, Cavaliers director of scouting Brandon Weems watched Avdija in person. Assistant general manager Mike Gansey got a look at Avdija during an April 2019 scouting trip and is in Tel Aviv to gather more intel. In about two weeks, Gansey is planning another international journey -- unless games keep getting cancelled because of coronavirus -- to see Avdija again and a few other prospects, including guards Killian Hayes and Theo Maledon of France, and Leandro Bolmaro of FC Barcelona Lassa 2. They’re all considered first-round talents.

The Cavs are trying to get as much information as possible and believe it’s important to see prospects in different settings and environments over multiple times. They have the league’s second-worst record and various executives have been all over the place this year, in and out of the country, watching all the top prospects in person. Avdija is no exception.

On Monday, as a pair of Cavs youngsters -- Kevin Porter Jr. and Darius Garland -- were leading the team back from a 22-point deficit against the Miami Heat, Avdija was flashing the talent that has so many around the league intrigued by his potential, believing he could possibly make a case for the top spot in June, especially given how fickle this class looks.

A few highlights from Deni Avdija's 21-point, 8-rebound, 2-assist game for Israel in a win over Romania. The 19-year-old is one of the draft's most well-rounded prospects given his ability to pass, handle, and shoot at 6-9. Film Breakdown from Tel Aviv: https://t.co/aZuzWHDZTH pic.twitter.com/RETCL9f0PF — Mike Schmitz (@Mike_Schmitz) February 25, 2020

Playing for Israel’s National Team, with Gansey in attendance, during a comfortable win over Romania, Avdija poured in 21 points to go with eight rebounds and two assists. At 19 with size, he has shown an ability to pass, dribble and shoot -- the kind of skill set that teams are coveting in this pace-and-space, open-court era. He is said to have a high basketball IQ and natural feel for the game. He would fill a gaping hole the Cavs currently have at small forward.

Most feel Georgia’s Anthony Edwards is still the top guy. But the 6-foot-5 freshman guard has been up and down. He’s averaging 18.9 points on 40.8% shooting and 30.5% from 3-point range to go with 5.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.3 steals. Georgia is just 14-13 and 4-10 in the conference.

LaMelo Ball has also gotten top-pick buzz. But Ball, a supersized point guard who was playing in the Australian-based NBL, lasted 12 games before a foot injury led to him parting ways with the club, choosing instead to prepare for the draft.

Ball, who Gansey scouted in Tasmania during Hungry Jack’s NBL Blitz earlier this season, averaged 17.0 points, 7.4 rebounds and 6.8 assists during his time with the Illawarra Hawks.

Memphis center James Wiseman entered the season with tons of hype. His college career ended after just three games, with the NCAA discovering that Penny Hardaway gave $11,500 to Donzaleigh Artis (Wiseman’s mother) for moving expenses when her family left Nashville to Memphis in 2017 and Hardaway was the coach at East High School. The transaction constituted a violation of the NCAA’s bylaws because Hardaway was considered a Memphis booster due to a $1 million donation he made to the athletic department in 2008.

That leaves to door open for Avdija -- or someone else -- to keep moving up draft boards.

"Anyone can go No. 1″ in this draft, a source said recently. Even Avdija. And that’s precisely what Altman wants to see for himself this week. It’s all part of the process.

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