{"id":188010,"date":"2026-04-09T13:35:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T17:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=188010"},"modified":"2026-04-09T13:35:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T17:35:00","slug":"deni-avdija-may-not-be-blazers-long-term-star","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/04\/09\/deni-avdija-may-not-be-blazers-long-term-star\/","title":{"rendered":"Deni Avdija May Not Be The Blazers’ Long-Term Star After All"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Portland Trail Blazers will be owned by Tom Dundon<\/a> starting next season. While they have had a promising campaign, the Blazers still need a true star. Deni Avdija<\/a>‘s offense suggests he is the man to take over, but that might not be the right move.<\/p>\n

Deni Avdija May Not Be The Blazers’ Long-Term Star After All<\/h2>\n

This season has been a breakout year for Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija. He earned his first All-Star nod as he emerged as the Blazers’ primary ball-handler and first option. While Shaedon Sharpe<\/a> is also a high-level scorer<\/a>, Avdija truly became the team’s go-to guy.<\/p>\n

Avdija’s primary offense is getting downhill and finishing at the rim. He has also become known for his aggression and ability to draw fouls. The 25-year-old is averaging 24 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game. He is definitely effective, but he might not be the Blazers’ foundational player.<\/p>\n

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A Bright Future Relies On A Foundational Star<\/h3>\n

The Blazers will enter a new era in the 2026-27 season. After 38 years of ownership by the Allen family, the team will soon be led by Tom Dundon<\/a>. This will be a massive shift for the Blazers, likely coming with organizational changes.<\/p>\n

Key trades could be on the horizon, especially with the Blazers’ treasure trove of assets. They have the Orlando Magic’s first-round pick in 2028 and the Milwaukee Bucks’ first-round pick in 2029. Alongside the ’29 FRP, the Blazers own the Bucks’ two pick swaps in 2028 and 2030.<\/p>\n

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The Portland Trailblazers have shown interest in trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo and re-uniting him with Damian Lillard \ud83d\udc40<\/p>\n

The Blazers hold a \u2018unique leverage\u2019 in the negotiations as they hold the Bucks \u201828, \u201829 & \u201830 draft picks from the Lillard trade. Milwaukee may be\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/Z4u75JlhRJ<\/a><\/p>\n

— Basketball Forever (@bballforever_) February 3, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n