Portland acquires Wizards’ Avdija

By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher

Two rebuild teams just made a trade. The Portland Trail Blazers have traded Malcolm Brogdon to the Washington Wizards.

In addition to the veteran player, the Wizards also receive the 14th overall pick in tonight’s NBA Draft. Plus, additional picks.

They will receive the most favorable of Portland’s 2029 first-round draft picks and two second-round draft picks.

Portland received young player Deni Avdija. The 23-year-old was the ninth overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Avdija has spent his first four seasons with Washington before joining the Trail Blazers this offseason. He averaged a career-high 14.7 points per game this past season.

Due to his performance during the season, he was sixth in the Most Improved Player voting.

Avdija averaged 7.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.5 blocks per game.

With this youngster, the Wizards were 15-67 on the season. They finished 14th in the Eastern Conference.

The 31-year-old Brogdon is a journeyman. He’ll be on his fifth NBA team if he plays for the Wizards.

But the team could choose to release or trade him in the days and weeks ahead.

Since 2019, Brogdon has now been traded four times. This is his third trade in less than two years.

Last season, he averaged 15.7 points per game in his lone season in Portland. The 15.7 points per game was his most in two seasons when he averaged 19.1 points per game with the Indiana Pacers during the 2021-22 season.

Brogdon also averaged 3.8 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.2 blocks.

The rebuilding Trail Blazers went 21-61 on the season. They were 15th in the Western Conference.

Brogdon was sixth on the Trail Blazers in points last season. Anfernee Simons led the team with 22.6 points per game.

Avdija was third on the Wizards in scoring last season. Kyle Kuzma led the team with 22.2 points.