Deni Avdija has a legitimate shot at being the Portland Trail Blazers' best player next season, especially if they ultimately decide to trade Anfernee Simons and Jerami Grant. The 23-year-old Israeli wing is coming off a career-best season with the Washington Wizards, where he finished sixth in Most Improved Player of the Year voting.
Avdija is precisely what the Blazers' roster was missing as a versatile wing. He elevates their overall level of play with his playmaking, scoring, rebounding, and two-way prowess. But there is one glaring question mark surrounding his game that he must address early on with the Blazers to prove that he was worth giving up Malcolm Brogdon and two first-round picks.
From year three to four with the Wizards, Avdija went from averaging 9.2 points to 14.7 points per game. A substantial contributing factor in Avdija's breakout season was his improved shooting. Despite a higher volume due to an increase in minutes, he was much more efficient, shooting 50.6 percent from the field and 37.4 percent from beyond the arc.
Is Deni Avdija's improved three-point shooting here to stay?
But there's pause for concern, as Avdija has been a below-average three-point shooter in his previous three seasons. He also doesn't take too many threes for a wing, averaging 3.1 attempts per game last season. Was last year a fluke season, or is this the new and improved shooter version of Avdija that Blazers fans can expect going forward?
Hopefully, it's the latter, as the Blazers desperately need help with three-point shooting—they finished last in the league in three-point accuracy last season at 34.4 percent. Portland also moved off of arguably their best shooter, Brogdon, to acquire Avdija. They now have four centers and young athletic guards like Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe, who rely on getting to the paint to do much of their offensive damage.
If Avdija isn't a reliable floor spacer like he was last season, the Blazers will have a congested offense next season. That may not be a considerable issue next season, as they are looking to land a top draft pick in 2025. But it will make the trade appear less of a win than it currently is and significantly hinder their rebuilding plans.