NBA Draft Day is usually a pretty active day when it comes to players finding new homes. We have seen trades happen in the hours prior to the draft and trades seconds before a team picks. Maybe more than the picks, the most exciting part of the draft is seeing all of the moving pieces and projecting how teams are going to perform next year. The first move of the day was a Deni Avdija trade, involving the Washington Wizards and the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Wizards agreed to trade former lottery pick Deni Avdija to the Trail Blazers in exchange for Malcolm Brogdon, the 14th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft and a 2029 first-round pick. Let’s evaluate the Deni Avdija trade.
Portland Lands Young Talent With Deni Avdija Trade
The obvious major piece in this trade was Avdija, who saw the best season of his career in 2023-24. Playing in and starting 75 games, Deni Avdija averaged 14.7 points per game on 50.6% shooting from the field and 37.4% from the three-point line. On top of the good shooting stats, Avdija added 7.2 rebounds per game and 3.8 assists per game.
The Deni Avdija trade seems insignificant to the common eye at first, which makes sense, given the Wizards’ performance last season. Avdija was not the reason for this though. On a team with Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Poole, Avdija’s shooting numbers really stand out. Starting his professional career with Maccabi Tel-Aviv at 16 years old, Avdija brings seven years of professional basketball experience to a very young Portland Trailblazers team. Avdija could always shoot the ball, but he lacked on defense. That defense wasn’t horrible this season though and now with Deandre Ayton, Avdija’s defense won’t need to be at full mast.
Realistically, the Trail Blazers added a piece that is not going to dig them out of the bottom of the West, but will provide for some strong play during another rebuilding season. At 23 years old, Avdija has a prime opportunity to help space the floor for Scoot Henderson and Anfernee Simons, while having the ability to develop his game to bring Portland to the playoffs in a few years.
Washington Stocks Up on Picks, Leadership
While Avdija was a great piece for the Wizards last season, they elected to go even younger, by picking up Portland’s 14th overall pick. With the pick, they could possibly replace Avdija with a wing like Colorado’s Tristan Da Silva or Baylor’s Ja’Kobe Walter. Either way, whoever they choose will probably see immediate playing time. The Wizards also added a 2029 first-round pick, which will should help as they continue to rebuild.
The Wizards were also able to add veteran guard Malcolm Brogdon, who may be in for a sign-and-trade. If Brogdon does indeed stay, it gives Washington some much-needed veteran experience and leadership. Brogdon probably slides into the starting point guard position, moving Tyus Jones to the bench. Brogdon’s decision-making and ability to get teammates involved in the game should certainly improve Poole and Kuzma’s efficiency.
The Trail Blazers probably win this trade in the short term and the long term, given that Avdija is the best player in this trade and only projects to keep getting better. It is hard to really grade this trade for the Wizards, as it is going to come down to who they draft at 14. Should they get a player that can somewhat fill the Avdija role, then the Wizards are sitting pretty in relation to the trade.
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