Deni Avdija’s run in Portland has quickly turned him into one of the more intriguing names on the NBA’s next contract board, but the Trail Blazers may not be in position to keep him when the time comes.
Avdija is coming off his first All-Star season, putting up 24.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.6 blocks per game while shooting 46.2% from the field. He has clearly found his stride with the Blazers, yet the financial reality around the team makes an extension look unlikely once his current deal expires. He has two years and $24 million left.
“The Blazers are kind of a sinking ship. They are not setting themselves up to preserve the cap space they’re gonna need to renegotiate and extend Deni Avdija,” said insider Sam Quinn on the ‘Third Apron’ podcast.
“Deni will make $11.875 million in 2027-28. The most he can get in a veteran extension is a 140% Year 1 raise, or $16.625 million.
That’s MLE money. He’s not taking that.
To pay him fairly, they’d need cap space to renegotiate and extend him.”
Portland has shown real progress lately, with Avdija, Scoot Henderson, Donovan Clingan and young sharpshooter Shaedon Sharpe giving the roster a promising look on paper. Even so, the skepticism around the team has not gone away.
Sharpe’s injury, which is expected to keep him out for months, adds another problem. So does the situation surrounding owner Tom Dundon, whose cost-cutting approach has already drawn attention.
And then there’s the backcourt squeeze, with Ja Morant, Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson all in the mix. That combination leaves Portland with a roster full of complications, and Avdija does not line up cleanly with a win-now veteran in his prime.
Because of that, the expectation is that the Blazers will eventually move on rather than pay him in a way that limits their flexibility. If he departs, it could come through a trade or in free agency in 2028, but either way he would likely need to find a new team to land the max-level contract he is expected to chase.
That search could draw plenty of interest. The Clippers, Suns and Rockets are all mentioned as possible suitors, and the Nuggets could also make sense, with Avdija potentially serving as a replacement for Peyton Watson at the right price.
For now, Portland still has two years before the decision becomes real. But when it does, it could end up sending ripple effects through the NBA.
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Blazers Built A Dangerous Offense But One Flaw Could Decide Everything
Portland enters the 2026-27 season with an offense that could make life miserable for opponents, built around Ja Morant, Damian Lillard and Deni Avdija as central creators. The Blazers also have a new voice guiding the group, with Micah Nori stepping in to steer a roster that should be capable of putting up points in bunches and keeping the team in the playoff conversation.
The catch is on the other end, where a smaller guard rotation could leave Portland exposed possession after possession. That concern is why the Blazers are being projected more as a team in the 7-10 range in the Western Conference than as a true West heavyweight, even if the talent is enough to keep them in the play-in mix. [Read more 🡒]