DENI
AVDIJA

Down 5, three minutes left, hostile building, playoffs. Scoot drives, kicks to Deni in the right corner. Ball in, fans silent. That's not just a made shot — that's a player who wants the ball in a clutch situation on the road. That's a winner.

4.2 deflections per game. 18 charges drawn. The defensive rotations where he gives up his body to protect Scoot's gambles in the passing lanes. Portland's defense is 8 points per 100 better when Deni is on the floor. That's a superstar-level defensive impact — for $13.8 million.

When Deni is on the floor with Scoot and Shaedon, the offensive rating is 118.4. Without him, it drops to 109.2. That's a nine-point swing. He sets the screen that frees Scoot's drives. He spaces the floor so Shaedon's catch-and-shoot looks open. He moves without the ball so defenders can't camp in the paint.

At 23, Deni has played international basketball since he was 16. He's been in high-stakes environments — EuroBasket, the NBA playoffs, the Israel national team. When this team plays scared, Deni is the calming presence. You can't put that in a box score, but you can see it in fourth quarters.