Deni Avdija's star ascension was the biggest reason the 2025-26 season should be considered an overall success for the Portland Trail Blazers. He ended their playoff drought and gave Portland its first All-Star since Damian Lillard.
But with that postseason appearance also came clarity. The short first-round exit at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs revealed that Avdija can't be a true 1a option for this team to genuinely contend.
Lillard's return should help close Portland's star power gap, but that isn't a sustainable, or even reliable, solution, given his age and the uncertainty about whether he'll return to form after such a brutal Achilles injury.
This season confirmed that the Blazers' young core is far too skilled to bottom out for a top draft pick, so they must take their roster in the opposite direction to escape no man's land. Combine that with an aggressive new owner in Tom Dundon, who has expectations of winning sooner rather than later, and it's easy to see why the Blazers are expected to go star hunting this offseason.
But now that Avdija has established himself as the star in Portland, the front office must find the ideal co-star who complements his game well.
Portland still needs a co-star for Deni Avdija
Both Portland and the Miami Heat are already in pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo, and while he'll solve their lack of top-tier star power, the fit alongside Avdija is questionable at best. Antetokounmpo and Avdija are redundant, as they are at their best when they use their physical tools to attack downhill.
The Blazers desperately need more floor spacing and should look to target stars who are three-level scorers, such as Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, and Trey Murphy III.
While Murphy is the cleanest fit for Portland's timeline, he won't come cheap. His age, contract, and two-way skill set make him a seamless fit for any team in the league, which drives up his trade value for New Orleans.
Regardless, Murphy is on a similar star tier as Avdija, meaning he wouldn't solve their contention ceiling problem. Durant could fit the bill as he remains one of the league's premier scorers and shot creators, but he's not quite the go-to option required to carry Portland through the postseason.
Blazers should pursue Kawhi Leonard this summer
By the process of elimination, the one true star fit could potentially be Leonard.
At 34, he's still playing the best basketball of his career. He's already proven capable of leading a team to a ring as the go-to option, as was the case in Toronto. And, he checks every box in terms of what Portland should be looking for as a co-star alongside Avdija.
Similar to Murphy, Leonard's coveted player archetype and strong season should, unfortunately, drive up his trade value. For Leonard, it would likely be a similar package required to land Antetokounmpo.
But the Clippers should at least be open to listening to offers for their superstar. They already committed to a retool after wisely trading James Harden and Ivica Zubac at the deadline, with the latter resulting in the No. 5 overall pick from the Indiana Pacers. That fortunate lottery outcome gives Los Angeles a chance to start fresh, which could be made easier by any young assets and draft capital they receive from Portland in exchange for Leonard.
With the two teams strategically trending in opposite directions, a Leonard blockbuster suddenly makes perfect sense from both sides.
Add us as a preferred source on Google