1 Mild, 1 Medium, 1 Hot take on the Portland Trail Blazers' 2024-25 season

Medium: Deni Avdija is the Blazers' best player

Deni Avdija is coming off a career year with the Washington Wizards, averaging 14.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game on 51/37/74 shooting splits. Being the Blazers' best player is contingent on Avidja maintaining above-average three-point shooting. He only connected on 30 percent of his attempts the prior season beyond the arc.

The recently released NBA 2K25 player ratings suggest that Avdija is the Blazers' fourth-best player. He was given an 80-player rating, which was lower than Deandre Ayton (83), Jerami Grant (82), and Anfernee Simons (81).

Avdija has a legitimate case for being the highest-rated player by the end of the season due to his well-rounded game. Ayton is an excellent rebounder with a soft touch but is limited as a rim protector, floor spacer, and playmaker. Grant is another score-first player who only averaged 3.5 rebounds per game despite his length. Additionally, Simons' frame prevents him from being a net positive defensively.

Avdija may not be elite at a particular skill, but his versatility and two-way prowess also mean he has no glaring flaws in his game despite being only 23 years old. Avdija's ability to impact winning in multiple aspects outside of scoring could separate him from the other Blazers' starters.