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Wizards Trade Deni Avdija to Trail Blazers for Malcolm Brogdon and 14th Pick
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    Wizards Trade Deni Avdija to Trail Blazers for Malcolm Brogdon and 14th Pick

    Washington and Portland have decided to join the draft-day trade party.

    The Wizards are reportedly sending forward Deni Avdija to the Trail Blazers in exchange for Malcolm Brogdon and the 14th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

    Portland will also include the second-most favourable of their 2029 first-round picks and two second-rounders as part of the deal.

    Avdija, 23, is coming off his fourth year in the NBA where he took a major step forward. He finished sixth in Most Improved Player voting after averaging career-highs in points (14.7), rebounds (7.2) and assists (3.8) on 59 per cent true shooting.

    He’ll now join a Trail Blazers core centred around last year’s third-overall pick Scoot Henderson, DeAndre Ayton (1st overall – 2018) and Canadian Shaedon Sharpe.

    Washington, in exchange for the former ninth-overall pick, has loaded up on capital as they head into what appears to be a rebuild. The Wizards now make two lottery selections on Wednesday — already drafting at No. 2 — along with the 26th overall pick in the Draft.

    They’ll also get a veteran in the locker room with the 31-year-old Brogdon. The 2016 Rookie of the Year and former Sixth Man of the Year is coming off a season in which he only played 39 games due to injury. Brogdon averaged 15.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 5.5 assists.

    And now that the 14th overall selection is in the hands of Washington and not Portland, that could impact Canadian Zach Edey’s draft day experience. The two-time National Player of the Year was reported to be a potential target for the Trailblazers with one of their two lottery picks (Nos. 7 and 14).

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    In a surprising move, the Washington Wizards have traded Deni Avdija to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Malcolm Brogdon and the 14th pick in the upcoming NBA draft. This trade has sent shockwaves through the basketball world, as both teams are making bold moves to improve their rosters.

    Deni Avdija, the 20-year-old forward from Israel, was the Wizards’ ninth overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft. While he showed promise in his rookie season, averaging 6.3 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, the Wizards have decided to part ways with him in exchange for a proven veteran in Malcolm Brogdon.

    Brogdon, a 28-year-old guard, has been a consistent performer throughout his career. He has averaged 16.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game over his six seasons in the NBA. His leadership and playmaking abilities will be a valuable addition to the Wizards’ backcourt.

    In addition to acquiring Brogdon, the Wizards also receive the 14th pick in the upcoming draft. This gives them an opportunity to add another young talent to their roster and continue building for the future.

    On the other hand, the Trail Blazers are taking a chance on Avdija’s potential and upside. At 6’9″, he has the size and skill set to become a versatile forward in the league. Pairing him with stars like Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum could help unlock his full potential and elevate the Trail Blazers to new heights.

    Overall, this trade is a win-win for both teams. The Wizards get a proven player in Brogdon and a high draft pick, while the Trail Blazers acquire a young talent with plenty of room to grow. It will be interesting to see how these moves impact both teams in the upcoming season and beyond.