The Oregonian/OregonLive is taking a player-by-player take a look at the Portland Path Blazers roster heading into the offseason.
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Prior posts: Anfernee Simons; Shaedon Sharpe; Scoot Henderson; Jerami Grant; Toumani Camara; Deandre Ayton; Donovan Clingan; Robert Williams III; Matisse Thybulle; Dalano Banton, Kris Murray; Jabari Walker; Duop Reath; Rayan Rupert; Justin Minaya; Bryce McGowens; Sidy Cissoko.
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Peak, place, age: 6-foot-9, ahead, 24.
Contract standing: Avdija’s contract, which can pay him $14.4 million subsequent season, has three years remaining. His contract decreases every season till he makes $11.8 million through the 2027-28 season.
2024-25 contributions (reference): The Blazers acquired Avdija in a draft-day commerce with Washington, believing that his greatest years have been forward of him, and loving his cap-friendly contract.
After experiencing early-season struggles, Avdija developed into the Blazers’ greatest all-around participant. He completed the season with profession highs in factors per recreation (16.9), rebounding (7.3), assists (3.9) and steals (1.0).
His taking pictures numbers dipped barely from his fourth season in Washington. He shot 47.6% from the sector and 36.5% from three-point vary, in comparison with 50.6% and 37.4% in his remaining season with the Wizards.
Nonetheless, a lot of his early taking pictures points may very well be attributed to Avdija’s adjustment interval together with his workforce and new position.
By way of November, he shot 39.5% from the sector and 31.2% on threes.
From Dec. 1 on, Avdija shot 49.9% from the sector and 38.1% from past the arc, averaging 19.1 factors per recreation.
The Portland Path Blazers’ Deni Avdija (8) drives to the basket throughout a recreation in opposition to the Cleveland Cavaliers on the Moda Middle in Portland, Oregon on Tuesday, March 25, 2025.Naji Saker for The Oregonian/OregonLive
Match transferring ahead: Give coach Chauncey Billups 5 Avdijas, and the Blazers win 50 video games.
Avdija is all the pieces Billups seeks in a participant: robust, bodily, aggressive, unselfish, aggressive, and versatile.
He holds teammates accountable and evokes them to play more durable.
“I simply play laborious and work laborious, and I really feel prefer it’s sort of like proven for our younger guys as effectively,” Avdija mentioned on the finish of the season. “However I positively prefer to be an instance.”
His adjustment interval concerned studying teammates and them studying him, in addition to studying to deal with new tasks.
Billups inspired Avdija to play aggressively in transition: push the ball, assault the basket, discover teammates, and make performs.
Avdija didn’t play that position a lot in Washington. So, it took some getting used to. However as his confidence grew, so did his manufacturing.
Commerce worth: Excessive. Avdija has top-of-the-line contracts within the NBA. He established himself as a flexible high-end expertise this season and can make below $15 million per season for the following three.
Most gamers at his stage are making not less than $20 million per season, if not $30 million.
Deni Avdija #8 of the Portland Path Blazers drives to the basket in opposition to Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors through the first half at Moda Middle on March 16, 2025 in Portland, Oregon. (Picture by Soobum Im/Getty Photos)Getty Photos
Chance to return: A digital lock. Buying and selling Avdija would require getting again an All-NBA stage expertise.
2025-26 outlook: All-Star? Perhaps?
Avdija established himself as a power throughout his remaining 15 appearances, averaging 24.1 factors, 10.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists. He shot 51.5% from the sector and 44.2% from lengthy distance throughout that stretch.
These have been All-Star caliber numbers, and he put them up with the workforce chasing a play-in berth.
Turning into an All-Star within the deep Western Convention can be troublesome. However his probabilities can be enhanced if the workforce performed .500 basketball or higher through the first half of the way in which, with him main the cost. That might additionally require Avdija to be particular at each ends of the courtroom.
“The subsequent step for me is to turn out to be a terrific two-way participant,” Avdija mentioned. “Be extra concerned on the defensive finish.”
If that occurs, and the offensive manufacturing Avdija confirmed through the second half of the season continues into subsequent season, the Blazers might have a legit star participant to construct round.
— Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Fb)
