well, if Ant+Grant+Ayton average 50FGA like last season, Avdija won't average as much as he did in Washington
after reflection, I feel even better about this deal than I did when it was announced. I mean, how long had it been since the Blazers actually added a budget contract? a potential 2-way swiss army knife forward with a decent stroke from 3. Solid rebounder and promising passer that said, I do think the price was substantial. Two of the three first's (likely) secured in the Dame trade plus the best player who came back. It might end up that Portland will have paid two lottery picks for Avdija. Here's hoping he makes it a bargain price by the way, am I the only one who has looked up how to spell his name about 10 times and knows I'll have to do it again?
I think it comes down to his 3pt shooting. If he continues to shoot well, the trade is a steal. If last year was a single season fluke, it'll be another Blazers overpay for a role playing forward that isn't good enough to start.
Lol He very well IS our starter. We went from our hopes on Camara being that second two-way forward next to a blue chip wing that we would eventually draft to now having Avdija. You think he is sitting on the bench behind Camara? Lols.
I really miss Rip City Report. Perfect balance of someone that works for the team and someone more objective.
Remember, the 14 this year was really like a 24 most years as has been crammed down our throats repeatedly. It was a lotto pick, but not really a lot pick if ya get my drift.
I think he will have a setback with the Blazers, primarily on defense. He will average 15/8 but his fouls per game will go up by to 4.5 per game, hobbling him at the end of games.
Teams that don't win on occasion tend to fire their GM. My speculation is that they stunk last year and had an unbalanced roster with extra forwards worthy of minutes and not enough guards. They probably want to give minutes to rookie deal guys Kispert and Coulibaly while Kuzma is arguably their best player. If healthy I'd expect Brogdon to start at PG for them and they added another PG/SG with #14. Dealing Deni gave them the opportunity to change their mix STOMP
After average stats on a .183 team, he will start for us, only because we're a .256 team and he's at our position of need, but he won't stand out above our other starters. Just because a couple of Wizard fanboys made highlight films claiming he's a huge talent, doesn't make him that.
Avdija is really the exact type of player/contract I was hoping Portland could get back when trading out one of Ant, Grant or Brogdon. It's not too often that you can trade a larger salary for just cap space and picks. Avdija has a phenomenal contract and is young. Plays a position of need and I think will far out perform his contract. Portland played a bit of a premium because this trade got them out from over the tax. But the last lotto pick in what everyone calls a weak draft was the premium, and quite honestly Portland does not have roster spots to give to projects that will take three years to be useful. They still have to decide if Murray and Rupert have the upside they envisioned and if Walker will have a roll after next season. Portland also had to include a future first which is the second best of three they have and a couple seconds which teams always seem to ask for. I would expect Avdija to further breakout as he will have more of a leadership role in Portland. Going forward, if Portland is looking to move Ant or Grant I would hope they get back a couple older vets of the journeyman variety that can play spot minutes in a backup roll but be mentors for the young players. With Brogdon gone now, Grant, at 30 is the elder statesman, but he needs to go to a title challenging team. Death is 28 but coming off his rookie season and Thybulle at 27 is the next oldest vet. Portland really needs a 30+ y/o vet guard and forward to be in the ear of the rookie contract players. Hopefully they are on shorter contracts too.
You mean the media didn't do their own actual check and got it wrong over and over again? I am SHOCKED!!
