Finding the silver lining in Deni Avdija's offensive struggles with the Blazers

On the surface, Deni Avdija has been off to a disappointing start with his new team. He's already been as advertised on the defensive end, providing the Portland Trail Blazers' defense with more versatility with his agility, 6-foot-9 frame, quick hands, and anticipation; this gives him the ability to effectively guard multiple positions, making their defensive unit more switchable and providing head coach Chauncey Billups with more lineup flexibility. But early on in the season, his offense, particularly his shooting, has been unreliable.

Deni Avdija's offensive woes to start the season

Avdija is averaging less than ten points a game and shooting under ten percent from beyond the arc. Three-point shooting consistency was the most glaring question mark surrounding Deni's game when the Blazers acquired him this offseason.

He's a career 32 percent three-point shooter, but his percentage drastically increased all the way from 29.7 to 37.4 from the 2022-23 season to the 2023-24 season with the Washington Wizards. That large leap after being a below-average three-point shooter throughout the first three seasons of his career was promising yet concerning at the same time, as if it were too good to be true and bound to regress to the mean this season.

It's an extremely small sample size, and Avdija could certainly turn it around, as his form has looked much better than the percentages suggest. But that aspect of his game that hasn't yet come around has to be concerning for a Blazers team that finished dead last in three-point percentage last season and traded away their best three-point shooter from a percentage standpoint, Malcolm Brogdon, in order to acquire Avdija.

While Avdija's shooting numbers are down, he's still helping the Blazers improve in one key area—getting to the charity stripe.

Avdija brings much-needed physicality to Portland's offense

Last season, Portland was tied with the Indiana Pacers for the eight-lowest free throw attempts per game in the league at 20.5. So far this year, they are in the top ten in the league, averaging nearly eight more attempts per game.

Avdija is contributing four attempts a game, which is behind the likes of Scoot Henderson, Anfernee Simons, and Jerami Grant. However, it's more impressive when considering Avdija's role in the Blazers' offense as a glue guy, with a usage rate roughly six percentage points lower than all three players mentioned.

Deni averages roughly four free throw attempts on only six two-point shot attempts per game. Compare that to Deandre Ayton, a seven-footer who leads the team with over 12 two-point attempts a game, yet less than one free throw attempt per game despite playing undersized teams like the Warriors and Pelicans (twice).

It's easy to see how Avdija is helping give the Blazers a new team identity. He's the exact player archetype that embodies how GM Joe Cronin envisions the roster construction to be—lengthy, athletic, versatile, and physical.