In their first game of the 2025 NBA preseason, the Portland Trail Blazers opted to start Jerami Grant over Deni Avdija. It was a shocking decision by head coach Chauncey Billups, who seemingly prioritized Grant's experience over Avdija's youth, upside, and already greater production.
Perhaps Billups is just experimenting with lineup possibilities ahead of the regular season, but starting Grant over Avdija could sabotage everything Portland has built.
Grant made waves at Media Day when he informed reporters that he doesn't expect to come off the bench this season. He's started every game he's played over the past five seasons, but much has changed since his latest injury hit during the 2024-25 campaign.
Avdija broke out, averaging 19.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.1 steals, and 2.0 three-point field goals made per game on .492/.369/.774 shooting after Jan. 1.
Avdija started each of those 40 games, thus making for a combination of a role change and rise to star-caliber production that seemingly guaranteed a spot in the 2025-26 starting lineup. At 24 years of age, there's also untapped potential Portland should be eager to explore.
Unfortunately, the Trail Blazers have begun to repeat the very mistakes that derailed Avdija's momentum with the Washington Wizards by benching him for a veteran he's already outpacing.
Blazers starting Jerami Grant endangers Deni Avdija's star development
Perhaps Billups is playing chess, rolling out a starting lineup with Grant before ultimately moving him to the second unit in an effort to convince the veteran that it's a better option for the team. If that's the case, then he's headed down a logical path.
If the Trail Blazers are planning to bring Avdija off the bench in favor of Grant, however, they're going to be doing themselves a great disservice.
Avdija proved that he can help run the offense in 2024-25, balancing on and off-ball proficiency in a compelling manner. After Jan. 1, he averaged 6.1 points via drives per game on 55.0 percent shooting and shot a respectable 35.5 percent on catch-and-shoot threes.
Avdija took his game to another level over his final 16 appearances, averaging 24.9 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game.
Furthermore, Portland went 22-18 during the games that Avdija played after Jan. 1 after going 11-21 in its first 32 outings. His impact on winning was clear, and his place in the starting lineup was thus readily available as he became an offensive hub of sorts for the Trail Blazers.
Just when it seemed as though Avdija was in line to make a leap to star status alongside All-Defensive Second Team honoree Toumani Camara, however, Grant took his spot in the lineup.
It's a puzzling decision on multiple levels, due in no small part to how well Avdija and Camara, both of whom are under 25, have jelled. It's also impossible to overlook the fact that Grant has missed at least 18 games in each of the past five seasons—and has been absent from a minimum of 28 in three of the past four.
One can only hope that Billups will bring Avdija back into the starting lineup and save the Trail Blazers from the potentially disastrous outcome of stifling his development.