The US claims: "Washington should not extend Avdiya's contract" - voila! sport

"Outside the Lines", 21.9/Video Editing: Ziv Steiner

Washington Wizards' training camp begins a week away, and in his fourth NBA season, Dani Avdija will hope to establish himself as one of the players who should get a bigger chance after the departures of two top stars, Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis. The situation in which the Israeli finds himself highlights the question marks about him, and not everyone is optimistic.

The French website Trash Talk has flagged Avdija as a disappointment, at least so far: "What should concern him is to find out what is holding him back and what motivates him, in order to become a truly central player and leader in this team," it said. The forward was presented as one of the players the franchise is counting on for the future and in analysis predicted that coach Wes Unseld Jr. would give him an important role in the rotation: "At 22, is it time to become a responsible adult?"

Entering a critical season. Avdya/Bernie Ardov

Avdija was also referenced in "Wiz Of Awes," in an article whose headline pointed out the reasons "why Washington shouldn't extend his contract." The Wizards must notify the Israeli by Oct. 23 if they exercise their option to give him a new contract, and if they choose to waive the option, he will become a restricted free agent next summer.

"Washington should wait," they explained in the United States. "Not because Avdija isn't a good player, the problem is that he's not a safe stock. With all his defensive contributions to the team, he doesn't score well, doesn't finish well close to the rim and hasn't proven he's the playmaker they claimed he was in the draft."

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Coach Wes Unseld Jr. is expected to give the Israeli forward more opportunities/Reuters

The article argued that the new management should take the time to review the current squad as part of the rebuilding process they decided upon when they waived Beal, and in order to give the new captains freedom of action, the club should not tie his future to a particular player in advance before reviewing him. "There's a time for every decision in the NBA — and now is not the time," they ruled of Abadia.

"Danny will get the opportunity and minutes to prove that his game is evolving. If he exceeds expectations, in a year he will be paid more than he will receive if he is extended now. If he doesn't play well, he can look at the free market and try to find a team that suits him better and the Wizards can look for players who will help them more in the future."

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