1 Weakness in Blazers' starting lineup that Deni Avdija will instantly elevate

The Portland Trail Blazers have arguably one of the worst starting lineups in the NBA. A significant reason is Portland's lack of All-Star talent or go-to player. The good news is that they don't have a weak spot on a positional basis, especially after addressing their need for an additional wing by trading for Deni Avdija. Between Anfernee Simons, Avdija, Jerami Grant, and Deandre Ayton, the Blazers have four players capable of scoring in that 15-20 points per game range, at minimum.

It appears that Shaedon Sharpe will get the last starting spot over Scoot Henderson, sliding Simons to starting point guard and delegating Scoot to a sixth-man role. Portland's starting lineup is balanced in talent but lacks versatility, which they must eventually address further when they decide to accelerate their rebuild. Avdija is a massive step in the right direction in that aspect.

Blazers' starters are too one-dimensional

In addition to the lack of an All-Star, the Blazers have one of the worst starting lineups in the league because their players are too one-dimensional. Sure, everyone could average over 15 points a game. But the Blazers' biggest strength of individual scorers is also their biggest weakness. Many of their starters don't significantly impact winning beyond scoring.

Simons is more of a combo guard rather than a traditional pass-first point guard, and his 5.5 assists per game aren't good enough as a playmaker to be relied on to initiate the offense and generate quality looks for everyone else.

Grant is a great complementary piece, given his scoring, length, and floor spacing ability. But he also inexplicably averaged just 3.5 rebounds per game last season despite being 6-foot-7 with a 7-foot-3 wingspan.

Ayton is a double-double machine but hasn't been able to contribute as much as a defensive anchor and rim protector as an athletic seven-foot, 247-pound center should. He only averaged 0.8 blocks per game in his first season with the Blazers.

It remains to be seen what level of player Sharpe is since he's only 21 years old and only played 32 games last season. Sharpe could have a breakout season, as he's shown flashes of All-Star potential in his first two seasons with Portland. But, up until this point, he's also struggled with consistency, especially relative to the high expectations he's set for himself as someone capable of being the Blazers' best player.

Avdija provides versatility for Blazers

The point is that Avdija is a perfect addition to this Blazers' starting lineup as the glue that holds all the pieces together. Last season with the Wizards, Avdija averaged a career-high 14.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game on 51/37/74 shooting splits. While he may never become an All-Star level player, Avdija is a versatile two-way wing who is capable of being the third or fourth-best player on a playoff contender.

As the Blazers' roster is currently constructed, he will compensate for many of their other one-dimensional starters' weaknesses. Avidja's well-rounded game fits seamlessly into practically any starting lineup; that will be essential given the Blazers' current situation, as they have a roster in flux, and their starting lineup could look different by next season.

Adding a complementary piece in Avdija who can contribute in multiple aspects is an underrated addition for the Blazers. It helps them establish an identity of having a young player who is part of their long-term core that impacts winning beyond just his ability to score.