The Trail Blazers‘ 2024 trade for Deni Avdija has been a major win for the team so far, as the forward enjoyed a breakout 2024/25 season and established himself as perhaps Portland’s most valuable player, says Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian.
Avdija’s contract, which will pay him $39.4MM over the next three seasons, has turned into one of the NBA’s most team-friendly deals, especially given the star potential he flashed at times this past year. As Fentress writes, the 24-year-old could be in the All-Star conversation next season if he’s able to come anywhere close to matching the 24.9 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game (on .508/.431/.816 shooting) he posted during his final 16 appearances in March and April.
Avdija has taken on a leadership role on a Blazers team featuring several core players who are younger than him, telling reporters at the end of the season that he “likes to be an example” with his work ethic. His goal heading into next season is to make more of an impact on the other end of the court.
“The next step for me is to become a great two-way player,” he said, per Fentress. “Be more involved on the defensive end.”
Here’s more on the Blazers:
- Many fans in Portland have been waiting since Paul Allen‘s death in 2018 for the franchise to be sold, according to Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report (Substack link), who notes those fans are about to get their wish. The question now is whether a new ownership group will really improve the team’s fortunes, given that ownership changes aren’t always for the best, as Highkin outlines, citing a few NBA examples.
- In a separate Substack article, Highkin considers the Blazers’ options with the No. 11 pick in this year’s draft, acknowledging that it’s still early to get a sense of which prospects Portland might like most at that spot. The team’s inclusion of last year’s No. 14 pick in a deal for Avdija shows the front office is comfortable trading a lottery pick for a more established player, Highkin writes, though he also points out that Avdija was someone the front office targeted for a while and there’s no guarantee there will be a similar fit out there this year.
- Within an explanation of why teams in the back half of the lottery are unlikely to target point guards in the draft, Sam Vecenie of The Athletic cites sources “around the Blazers” who say they’re pleased with the development Scoot Henderson made in the second half of 2024/25. Henderson hasn’t had the sort of impact that many evaluators expected in his first two NBA seasons, but he averaged a solid 14.2 points and 5.2 assists per game on .434/.384/.766 shooting in his final 35 games this year, with Portland going 19-16 during that stretch.
Would love to see the blazers GM grow a pair and actually make some moves
1. DeAndre Ayton, Scoot Henderson, pick 11 and a future first for Ja Morant and Brandon Clarke
2. Jermai Grant, Anfernee Simons and a future first for Lauri Markeneen and Jordan Clarkson
Ja Sharpe Avdija Markeneen Clingham
Clarkson Thybulle Camara Clarke Rob Will
Ja gives this team a real deal superstar. When he’s fit and firing he is borderline top 10.
You have Lauri, Deni, Sharpe and Clingham all really good players around him.
Jordan Clarkson off the bench is instant offence. Camara is a beast at either forward spot. Mattise is a lockdown defender. Rob Williams if he can stay healthy is a huge addition.
Honestly this team could be a playoff side just like that.
Memphis get to develop Scoot into a more PG version of Ja. While Ayton helps a ton at the 5 spot. SF is the tough spot to fill, do you make a trade, use the 11th pick or give it to GG?
Off the bench SPJ, Wells, Aldama Edey, they are stacked in quality young players.
As for the Jazz, Collier looks to have overtaken George for the PG job, now Simons is here for the SG job. At 5th in the draft I think Ace Bailey falls to them and that’s a really good pick there. Grant is a great fit cause he can play either forward spot or even off the bench. He’d be a good leader for that second unit, he’s a two way guy and is abit older now. Rounding out the starters would be John Collins and Walker Kessler. Then off the bench George, Williams, Hendricks?, Filipowsk, Juzang and the older guys Grant and Sexton.
Collier Simons Ace John Walker sounds exciting tho
Avdija becoming a player at 24. His potential has always been great 2way player with excellent size for a wing …. Go get em Deni
All the Kuminga haters should take a good look at Deni. Cause this is what it’s going to look like for JK in a few yrs. On another team …..
Im still mad at wiz mgt for letting avdija go… so the curse of wiz still stands… all the nice players that made it good always had to do a pit stop here in dc …. 🙏