2 Trail Blazers players who exceeded expectations this season

The Portland Trail Blazers have more positive than negative takeaways from their 36-46 season as they've taken significant strides toward returning to playoff relevancy in the coming years.

They developed a defensive-minded identity and had multiple young players progress throughout the season. Recent top ten picks, Shaedon Sharpe, Scoot Henderson, and Donovan Clingan, have all shown promise and are starting to form a respectable young core that will only continue to improve.

However, the two players with the most impressive seasons weren't drafted by Portland -- they were traded for. Their breakout seasons helped the Blazers exceed last year's win total by 15, contributing to general manager Joe Cronin's extension, as both trades now look like major wins for Portland's rebuild.

Toumani Camara

Toumani Camara finished ninth in the Defensive Player of the Year race, suggesting he has a legitimate shot at making the All-Defensive Second Team.

Camara led the league in drawn charges by a wide margin. He also ranked in the 99th percentile for perimeter isolation defense, constantly guarding the opposing team's best player. His elite defense already makes him a key contributor, but the most promising improvement has come on the other side of the ball.

His shooting was a glaring red flag for him as a prospect, causing him to slide toward the end of the second round in the 2023 NBA Draft. But he's quickly become a reliable 3-and-D piece for Portland, improving his three-point percentage from 33.7 to 37.5 in his second season on significantly higher volume.

Camara's season proved that his ceiling is higher than anyone expected as he continues to expand his offensive arsenal beyond just shooting. He's becoming quite the steal for Portland and should have a long-term starting role regardless of what happens next in their rebuild.

Deni Avdija

Another versatile two-way wing, Deni Avdija, was the most significant factor behind the Blazers' surprising season. Coming over from the Wizards, Avdija was viewed more as an elite role player -- someone who would elevate the Blazers' floor and fill multiple roster needs with his well-rounded game, but not necessarily someone who would emerge as their go-to option.

That was especially true at the beginning of the season, as Avdija struggled with his shot, and both he and Chauncey Billups worked to figure out his place in the offense. If the rebuilding Blazers traded two first-round picks for a role player, it would be a risky trade by Cronin that backfired, which was the narrative early on.

But Avdija flipped that narrative, showing exactly why the Blazers went out and got him, turning a corner around the All-Star break. He shot 41.7 percent from three after the break, which opened up the rest of his game as a physical downhill attacker and playmaker. As a result, Avdija became the Blazers' focal point, and their entire offense benefited from it as it provided them with a dimension they previously lacked.

Whether Avdija can become their missing All-Star solution remains to be seen. However, this season made it clear that the Blazers need to center every offseason move around how best to build around their newest weapon.