Deni Avdija has wanted to be utilized more as a primary playmaker and point forward, which is something that was hinted at during his stint with the Washington Wizards.
Former Wizards coach Wes Unseld previously discussed this increased role as being the next step in Avdija's development with Howard Blas of JNS, saying, "the next iteration for him will be his being a playmaker, playing as a secondary ball-handler, and at times, the primary ball-handler."
Avdija showed flashes of this with Washington, but it never fully came to fruition, in part because the Wizards prematurely traded a star in the making.
Following the surprising trade to Portland, Avdija also hinted at wanting that increased role. "I'm expecting to be a big part of the team, help them become a better team, take it to the next level. Honestly, I expect to get better every single day," he said.
Credit the Trail Blazers for not only recognizing Avdija's potential when they initially acquired him in the once-polarizing trade, but also for putting him in the optimal position to reach that star ceiling.
Deni Avdija's point-forward role is unlocking his star ceiling
The most pressing question mark coming over from the Wizards was Avdija's shooting. He capped off his final season in Washington with 37.4% shooting from beyond the arc, a drastic and seemingly unsustainable increase from the previous years in which Avdija hovered around 32%. But fortunately for Portland, Avdija's improved shooting was here to stay, which has been a significant factor behind this turning out to be a lopsided trade in Portland's favor.
Avdija has quickly become one of the most well-rounded offensive players in the league. He has virtually no weaknesses outside of perhaps turnovers, which come with the territory as he continues to grow into this playmaking role. At 6-foot-8, he's transforming into a jumbo guard who is a matchup nightmare for opposing teams.
His underrated playmaking is what allows Avdija to thrive in this point forward role. Blazers fans saw a glimpse of this in his first year with Portland, particularly towards the end of the season following several notable injuries. This year, the Blazers have been struck by the injury bug once again, missing practically their entire backcourt as of late. Avdija's ability to effectively initiate the offense is the one silver lining.
He's performing at an All-Star level this season, averaging a career high 25.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 6.1 assists on 47/38/80 shooting splits. Portland's rising star currently has the second-highest usage rate on the roster at 27.9%, only behind Shaedon Sharpe (31.7%). Part of this was by design, with the Blazers moving on from ball-dominant players such as Anfernee Simons, Deandre Ayton, and Dalano Banton this offseason. But Portland couldn't anticipate the injuries hitting them this badly early on. And they certainly couldn't imagine Avdija being this good.
He's playing at a level that likely even exceeded their own expectations, and the decision to make him a focal point of the offense this season looks better than ever.