Deni Avdija just answered Portland Trail Blazers' most pressing question

We need to slow down writing about Deni Avdija at some point, but we can't help it -- Avdija's been that incredible lately. It's like Portland's roster needs are a game to him, and he's checking each one off the box as he levels up his play.

He immediately brought more versatility and physicality to a roster that lacked both. Then, he drastically improved his three-point shooting as the season progressed, an area they finished dead last in the previous season. With the shooting finally catching up to the rest of Avdija's game, he became a do-it-all wing, something Portland hasn't had since Nicolas Batum.

The Blazers' final boss stage would be the biggest question mark surrounding their young core: is there a star they can build around? Avdija's ascension has proven he's already beaten the game. He's become that go-to player for them.

It's him. Avdija is the player Portland should be building around.

Since the All-Star break, Avdija has been averaging 22.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 5.1 assists while shooting a highly efficient 51 percent from the field and 43 percent from three. We previously said Avdija was the most underrated player in the league when he was ranked No. 94 in the league in FanSided's NBA 99, but we also mentioned that he's a top 60 player. Avdija has been playing closer to a top-25 player since the break.

Outside of turnovers, there are zero holes in his game. He's a 6-foot-9, 240-pound wing capable of outrunning your entire team in transition or bulldozing his way into the paint in a halfcourt. But that style of play truly only works because he's able to combine those physical traits with a crafty skillset in terms of his ballhandling, knowing when to decelerate, what footwork to use, anticipating plays, etc.

How many jumbo wings do we know that can initiate the offense like Avdija? It's a short list of guys, including LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum, Cade Cunningham, and Paolo Banchero. To become an All-Star, you have to separate yourself as an elite player by possessing attributes and skills that few in the league can match. Deni has that trait in him as a player other teams can't replicate.

It's becoming more apparent with each passing game that Avdija is the go-to piece the Blazers should be building around. That clarity is coming at a perfect time, as Portland can help use it to guide key offseason decisions.