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Wizards' Deni Avdija mistake is Trail Blazers' gain
TL;DR
Deni Avdija scored 41 points, 7 rebounds, and 12 assists for the Portland Trail Blazers in a recent play-in tournament victory against the Phoenix Suns. The Washington Wizards traded Avdija in June 2024, which has proven to be a significant mistake for them.
Wizards' Deni Avdija mistake is Trail Blazers' gain originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Washington Wizards had Deni Avdija and never unlocked him.
The Portland Trail Blazers are very grateful.
Avdija just had one of the games of his life -- 41 points, 7 rebounds and 12 assists in the play-in tournament on Tuesday night in an epic win over the Phoenix Suns.
He could've been doing this for the Wizards, but no. They traded him in June 2024 for Malcolm Brogdon, the first-round pick used on Bub Carrington, a 2029 first-rounder and two future second-round picks.
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It wasn't a terrible haul for Washington, but it hasn't aged well. Avdija has become a clear star in Portland.
It's not that he didn't have this skillset with the Wizards. It's that they didn't allow him to use it.
"The Wizards could’ve arrived here with Avdija if they didn’t waste 4 years giving touches to Westbrook, Dinwiddie and other mid PGs," NBA analyst Kevin O'Connor wrote on X after Avdija's massive game Tuesday night in the play-in tournament. "They drafted a 6-8 point forward but didn’t give him the ball. Never made sense. The Blazers figured out how to use Deni basically right away."
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The reality in the NBA is that it's not just about which players you bring into your franchise. It's about using them correctly.
The bad teams fail, over and over again, at using guys the way they should be used. The Wizards and Avdija are a prime example.
Portland saw that he had talent that wasn't being allowed to blossom in Washington, and their trade became a consequential move for both franchises.
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Q&A
What did Deni Avdija achieve in the play-in tournament?
Deni Avdija scored 41 points, along with 7 rebounds and 12 assists in the play-in tournament against the Phoenix Suns.
Why did the Wizards trade Deni Avdija?
The Wizards traded Deni Avdija in June 2024 for Malcolm Brogdon, a first-round pick used on Bub Carrington, a 2029 first-rounder, and two future second-round picks.
How has Deni Avdija performed since joining the Trail Blazers?
Since joining the Trail Blazers, Deni Avdija has had standout performances, including a remarkable game in the play-in tournament where he scored 41 points.