The Portland Trail Blazers knew Deni Avdija was special; they wouldn't have sacrificed valuable draft capital as a rebuilding team to steal him from the Washington Wizards if that wasn't the case. But did anyone know he'd be this good?
Just two seasons later, Deni has become an All-Star in Portland. He's been the silver lining to their frustrating season as one of the league's most injured teams, filling any voids thanks to his well-rounded game. Part of that includes stepping up as a point-forward to initiate the offense, as Portland's backcourt has been particularly depleted this season.
Blazers are at their best running the offense through Deni Avdija
Avdija still needs to find a way to limit his turnovers without compromising his aggressive, downhill style. But more than anything, this season has been a revelation for Portland, as they have more clarity about what the contender version of this roster looks like.
Using Avdija as that point forward plays to the strengths of the roster Joe Cronin has constructed. They get that offensive matchup advantage, as Avdija can punish smaller defenders, making a living at the free-throw line. Defensively, there's not even a tradeoff thanks to Avdija's positional versatility.
The NBA is trending toward jumbo guards like Luka Doncic and Cade Cunningham. Some may not yet realize it, but Portland has its own version in Avdija. His 29.0% usage rate is the second-highest on the roster behind only Shaedon Sharpe. More significantly, his 13.6 potential assists per game ranks in the top ten in the entire league, ahead of star guards like James Harden and MVP favorite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Portland must find complementary pieces this summer
This will be the first summer since Avdija's star ascension, making this a pivotal offseason as they look to take the next step in their rebuild. That means finding the pieces that best fit his style of play as a point forward, specifically when it comes to floor spacing.
It's even more impressive that Avdija has had this breakout season, considering Portland's roster doesn't even complement his strengths. They are one of the league's worst three-point shooting teams, which has clogged the paint for Avdija or led to double teams the Blazers haven't been able to capitalize on.
The Blazers are well aware of this issue, making a move on the margins to add sharpshooter Vit Krejci at the deadline. The good news is they're also already set to add reinforcements next season with Damian Lillard's return. But Portland can't get complacent and needs to continue finding more shooting.
Guys like Kris Murray and Sidy Cissoko may fit Cronin's vision on the defensive end, but this roster formula won't work until Portland finds a better balance. They finally added that star piece they've been desperately seeking. Now, the next phase is to build around Avdija as the face of the rebuild. Whether it's trading for someone like Trey Murphy III or simply drafting a prospect who fits the mold, this needs to be the top priority for Portland this summer.