The Washington Wizards and the Portland Trail Blazers have agreed to a trade that will see 23-year-old wing Deni Avdija move from the Wizards to the Trail Blazers in exchange for Malcolm Brogdon, the No. 14 overall pick in the upcoming draft, and two second-round picks, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Avdija had a standout season with the Wizards after taking on a more prominent role following the departures of Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis. He posted career-high averages in points, rebounds, and assists, and improved his 3-point shooting percentage. Avdija is also known for his strong defensive skills.
The trade is beneficial for both teams as they continue to rebuild their respective rosters. For the Wizards, it allows them to acquire two lottery picks in the upcoming draft – the No. 2 and No. 14 selections – which will help them bolster their team in the long run. Despite trading Avdija, they are still in a good position to further strengthen their roster with the assets they have acquired in return.
For Portland, trading Jerami Grant may open up a spot for Avdija to contribute immediately and long term. This is an uncommon move among rebuilding teams swapping young players, but it benefits both sides by providing each with promising young talent that can help them achieve their respective goals in the future. Avdija fills a need at forward for Portland and provides them with a promising young player to build around as they continue to reshape their roster.
