The Washington Wizards' decision to move on from Deni Avdija is starting to look like one of the more painful missteps of their ongoing rebuild - and the sting is only getting sharper as the season wears on.
Now sitting near the bottom of the NBA standings once again, the Wizards find themselves in a familiar spot: searching for a franchise cornerstone, trying to sell a long-term vision to a fanbase that’s been through its share of false starts. Meanwhile, Avdija - the player they shipped out during the 2024 draft - is thriving in Portland, and making it increasingly difficult for Washington to justify letting him go.
Let’s talk numbers first, because they’re eye-popping. Avdija is averaging 25.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game.
He’s doing it efficiently, too, shooting 46.9% from the field and 37.7% from deep. That’s not just a solid leap - that’s a full-on breakout.
He’s playing like a guy who’s out to prove something, and so far, he’s doing exactly that.
The change of scenery has clearly unlocked something in the former No. 9 overall pick. He’s playing with confidence, purpose, and a level of polish that wasn’t always on display in Washington. And now, for the Wizards, every highlight Avdija produces in a Blazers jersey feels like a missed opportunity - a reminder of what could have been.
That reminder got a little louder this week with the release of ESPN’s Top 25 Under 25 rankings. There was a bright spot for Washington - rookie big man Alex Sarr landed at No. 22, offering a glimmer of hope that the franchise may have finally found a young talent to build around. For a team desperate for direction, that kind of recognition is no small thing.
But the same list also delivered a gut punch: Deni Avdija came in at No. 15, seven spots ahead of Sarr.
ESPN’s Tim Bontemps laid out exactly why Avdija earned that ranking. When Portland acquired him during the 2024 draft, many around the league thought the Blazers had overpaid.
But Avdija has flipped that narrative on its head. He’s not just producing - he’s making a legitimate case for his first All-Star appearance and has put himself firmly in the conversation for Most Improved Player.
His scoring jump - from 16.9 points per game last season to 25.8 this year - is massive. And he’s done it without sacrificing efficiency.
That’s the kind of leap that turns heads in front offices around the league. It’s also the kind of leap that makes you rethink your roster decisions if you’re a team like Washington.
Bontemps didn’t mince words: Avdija already looks like a foundational piece for the Blazers. If he keeps this up - and there’s no reason to believe he won’t - he’ll be viewed as a legitimate star-level wing heading into next season.
Now imagine, for a moment, what a frontcourt pairing of Avdija and Sarr could’ve looked like in Washington. A versatile, playmaking forward next to a dynamic young big - that’s the kind of duo you can build around. Instead, the Wizards are left watching their former lottery pick blossom in a different uniform, while they continue to search for answers.
It’s not just about the numbers. It’s about patience, timing, and vision - the ability to recognize when a player is on the verge of something more.
Portland saw that in Avdija. Washington didn’t.
And now, as the Blazers reap the rewards, the Wizards are left with a tough truth: they may have let a future star walk out the door.