Last summer, the Portland Trail Blazers shocked the NBA world by trading for Deni Avdija. Portland paid a steep price to acquire Avdija from the Washington Wizards, sending over Malcolm Brogdon, No. 14 overall pick Bub Carrington, a 2029 first-round pick (second-most favorable from Portland), and two second-round picks (2028 and 2030).
It turns out, they knew exactly what they were doing. The Blazers were able to get under the luxury tax from this deal. Avdija is on arguably the best contract in the entire association, owed $39.4 million over the next three years. Most importantly, they added the best player on their roster. Avdija is a rising star who had a career-best year in Portland, averaging 16.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.9 assists.
Blazers' Deni Avdija steal changed their entire rebuild
There were questions surrounding this trade at the time, one of which was Avdija's three-point shot. He significantly improved as a shooter in his final two seasons with the Wizards, jumping from 29.7 to 37.4 percent from beyond the arc. That substantial a leap led many to wonder whether it was sustainable. At the beginning of his stint with the Blazers, he looked like the Avdija of old. He shot just 33.9 percent from deep before the All-Star break, making the early returns on Portland's aggresive trade not so promising.
Fortunately, Avdija turned things around in a significant way. He looked more comfortable with his shot and had a better understanding of his role in Portland's offense. Avdija even emerged as the Blazers' No. 1 option down the stretch. They were better off because of it and almost made the play-in tournament in the stacked Western Conference.
Heading into his second season with the franchise, Portland has made it clear that its offense will revolve around Avdija. They swapped offense for defense in their trade of Anfernee Simons for Jrue Holiday and their buyout of Deandre Ayton, giving Donovan Clingan a starting role.
The Blazers will need Avdija to continue embracing his point forward role, which makes him such a unique talent in the league with his well-rounded combination of size, physicality, ballhandling, playmaking, and now, shooting. The modern NBA is trending towards teams having an advantage with jumbo playmakers that are impossible to gameplan against, such as Luka Doncic and MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Thanks to the Wizards, the Blazers have one of their own in Avdija. Okay, not quite to that extent -- Avdija isn't a household name, or even an All-Star for that matter. But it wouldn't be surprising if that changes in the coming seasons. He's an ascending star who continues to get better at 24 years old.
The Blazers are giving him every opportunity to flourish by highlighting his strengths in this point forward role, and rightfully so. They absolutely stole Avdija from the Wizards, and now they wisely continue doubling down on that investment.