Deni Avdija changed the shape of the Portland Trail Blazers last season, and that breakout now sits at the center of the franchise’s next decision. His All-Star leap wasn’t just a nice development story - it became the key reason Portland finished 42-40 and grabbed the seven seed.
Avdija’s value came from more than scoring. When injuries piled up, interim head coach Tiago Splitter leaned harder into his ability to run the offense, and that point-forward usage built on the patient approach Chancey Billups had already taken with him. Billups understood the turnovers were part of the process as Avdija pushed toward a higher ceiling for himself and the team.
Portland didn’t just find a useful wing. It found a jumbo guard type who can bend a defense with size and skill, the kind of player who creates ugly matchups for opponents.
Cade Cunningham and Luka Doncic fit that mold, and Avdija suddenly does too. That makes Joe Cronin’s trade for the Washington Wizards’ rising star look even better two seasons later.
The Blazers also deserve credit for identifying what Avdija could become and making him the offensive priority. That choice helped steady a rebuild that had already leaned on Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson, and it gave Portland a path forward when the rest of the roster still felt uncertain.
That’s why this offseason move feels so strange. After finally unlocking Avdija, the Blazers didn’t simply double down on what worked. Instead, they brought in Ja Morant, and the fit carries a different kind of risk.
The trade did not require Portland to give up Kris Murray or Jerami Grant in the traditional sense of sacrificing major value. The concern is more subtle than that: Morant could wind up crowding the very success Avdija already established.
Portland’s first postseason trip of this young era came with Avdija as the breakout engine, so the obvious next step would seem to be surrounding him with pieces that complement that role. Lillard’s return from his gap year is expected to help with floor spacing for Avdija’s downhill game.
Morant, though, changes the conversation. What exactly does he add that builds directly off Portland’s newest star?
There is a clear upside. Morant can handle some of the playmaking load, which could ease pressure on Avdija after that burden proved heavy last season. But that only works if Portland uses him as a secondary creator and not as the centerpiece of a rebuild that already found traction without him.
If the Blazers start treating Morant as the main focal point instead of a support piece around Avdija and the rest of the young core, this move could shift fast from smart value to a drag on the team’s momentum.
In Other News...
Grizzlies Just Sent A Clear Message About This Roster Overhaul
The Grizzlies have spent the offseason making it clear they are not treating this roster as a finished product, and the latest move only sharpened that message. Memphis sent Ja Morant to the Trail Blazers in exchange for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray, a swap that immediately changed the look of both teams and added another major piece to the Grizzlies broader reshaping effort.
Memphis also brought in Jordan Hawkins from New Orleans as part of the shuffle, then moved on from him in a decision that fits the franchises willingness to keep turning over the roster. For Portland, the Morant deal is the headline, but the surrounding activity is a reminder that the Blazers are dealing with an opponent that seems determined to keep adjusting until it finds the right mix. [Read more 🡒]
Blazers Arena Standoff Just Got More Complicated With Expansion Looming
The back-and-forth over the Moda Center is now unfolding against a much bigger NBA backdrop, with the league edging closer to picking a winning bid for its long-anticipated expansion team in Las Vegas. For Portland, that matters because the arena talks are no longer just a local facilities issue. They sit inside a broader league conversation about where the next wave of NBA growth will land and what that could mean for an older building that needs attention.
Tom Dundon has reportedly been using that expansion process as leverage in discussions with other owners and city officials, a sign the Blazers arena standoff has gotten more complicated rather than less. Commissioner Adam Silver has already made clear he views relocating Portland as a failure, but with Seattle also in the expansion mix and the league nearing a decision, the pressure around the Moda Center negotiations is only getting heavier. [Read more 🡒]