WOJ: Blazers trade Brogdon and 14 for WAS or Deni Avdija

[DusterBuster]

This is a fantastic trade for us.

Deni will be entering his year 23 season so he is basically the same age as Dalton. He is able to defend 2-4 at a near elite level and is able to hold his own when switched to a 1 or 5. He is on a deal that is likely the best value contract in the NBA and it’s declining (15.6 / 14.3 / 13.1 / 11.8).

After the AS break he managed 17 / 9 / 4 on 60% TS. He plays the game the right way, creating for others without ball stopping. If his shot holds up he is going to be an All Star. As it stands, we have the second coming of Batum, but with more hustle and toughness.

He is absolutely a young core guy being about 2.5 years older than Sharpe, the same age as Dalton, a year older than Edey and the same age as Silva.

This kid is absolutely the best basketball player on the Blazers roster now.

The 2029 pick is my only worry, but I will need to see if any protections are on it. That being said, I would take Deni over anyone in this draft.

A core of Deni, Scoot, Sharpe and #7 is exciting. Will have 34 and 40 to play with as well.

Additionally, hopefully this means Grant is gone.

I am just about here myself. I understand why others are hesitant about the 2029 pick (two of the three teams whose picks Portland owns could definitely suck) and investing in a good player now instead of continuing to stockpile future assets...

...I just don't share those views. Deni is just as valuable in trade (by definition) as what they gave up -- probably more so, since he also has a contract attached, meaning the Blazers give up less for matching salaries in a hypothetical trade for a star. He's a win-now, win-later, OR trade-later piece. This is more than can be said with any degree of certainty about the first rounders surrendered.

As for Batum, I think he's potentially better. Nic was (is?) a good player, but he wasted one of the quickest, sweetest strokes in the NBA by wanting to be a playmaker/connector type instead of a dynamic off-ball scorer/secondary guy. And, even as the on-ball guy he was in his brief peak, he was still passive. I think he was overrated in the role he played and underrated for the role he wouldn't play.

But that's an aside. Deni is not Batum and seems to have more aggression to him at both ends. I trust he'll continue to grow as a scorer. Good player, good deal.

I'm happy to have dissenting views to mine on this. I really hope you all are right and I'm wrong, genuinely so but I'll forever be skeptical of guys having good stats on bad teams.

[Tim Lehrbach]

This is a fantastic trade for us.

Deni will be entering his year 23 season so he is basically the same age as Dalton. He is able to defend 2-4 at a near elite level and is able to hold his own when switched to a 1 or 5. He is on a deal that is likely the best value contract in the NBA and it’s declining (15.6 / 14.3 / 13.1 / 11.8).

After the AS break he managed 17 / 9 / 4 on 60% TS. He plays the game the right way, creating for others without ball stopping. If his shot holds up he is going to be an All Star. As it stands, we have the second coming of Batum, but with more hustle and toughness.

He is absolutely a young core guy being about 2.5 years older than Sharpe, the same age as Dalton, a year older than Edey and the same age as Silva.

This kid is absolutely the best basketball player on the Blazers roster now.

The 2029 pick is my only worry, but I will need to see if any protections are on it. That being said, I would take Deni over anyone in this draft.

A core of Deni, Scoot, Sharpe and #7 is exciting. Will have 34 and 40 to play with as well.

Additionally, hopefully this means Grant is gone.

I am just about here myself. I understand why others are hesitant about the 2029 pick (two of the three teams whose picks Portland owns could definitely suck) and investing in a good player now instead of continuing to stockpile future assets...

...I just don't share those views. Deni is just as valuable in trade (by definition) as what they gave up -- probably more so, since he also has a contract attached, meaning the Blazers give up less for matching salaries in a hypothetical trade for a star. He's a win-now, win-later, OR trade-later piece. This is more than can be said with any degree of certainty about the first rounders surrendered.

As for Batum, I think he's potentially better. Nic was (is?) a good player, but he wasted one of the quickest, sweetest strokes in the NBA by wanting to be a playmaker/connector type instead of a dynamic off-ball scorer/secondary guy. And, even as the on-ball guy he was in his brief peak, he was still passive. I think he was overrated in the role he played and underrated for the role he wouldn't play.

But that's an aside. Deni is not Batum and seems to have more aggression to him at both ends. I trust he'll continue to grow as a scorer. Good player, good deal.

I'm happy to have dissenting views to mine on this. I really hope you all are right and I'm wrong, genuinely so but I'll forever be skeptical of guys having good stats on bad teams.

Oh yeah, for sure, I wouldn't have mentioned your perspective if I thought it didn't have validity. We have different points of view on the rebuild, I suspect, but you support yours with reasonable arguments.

[PDXKnight]

This is a fantastic trade for us.

Deni will be entering his year 23 season so he is basically the same age as Dalton. He is able to defend 2-4 at a near elite level and is able to hold his own when switched to a 1 or 5. He is on a deal that is likely the best value contract in the NBA and it’s declining (15.6 / 14.3 / 13.1 / 11.8).

After the AS break he managed 17 / 9 / 4 on 60% TS. He plays the game the right way, creating for others without ball stopping. If his shot holds up he is going to be an All Star. As it stands, we have the second coming of Batum, but with more hustle and toughness.

He is absolutely a young core guy being about 2.5 years older than Sharpe, the same age as Dalton, a year older than Edey and the same age as Silva.

This kid is absolutely the best basketball player on the Blazers roster now.

The 2029 pick is my only worry, but I will need to see if any protections are on it. That being said, I would take Deni over anyone in this draft.

A core of Deni, Scoot, Sharpe and #7 is exciting. Will have 34 and 40 to play with as well.

Additionally, hopefully this means Grant is gone.

I am just about here myself. I understand why others are hesitant about the 2029 pick (two of the three teams whose picks Portland owns could definitely suck) and investing in a good player now instead of continuing to stockpile future assets...

...I just don't share those views. Deni is just as valuable in trade (by definition) as what they gave up -- probably more so, since he also has a contract attached, meaning the Blazers give up less for matching salaries in a hypothetical trade for a star. He's a win-now, win-later, OR trade-later piece. This is more than can be said with any degree of certainty about the first rounders surrendered.

As for Batum, I think he's potentially better. Nic was (is?) a good player, but he wasted one of the quickest, sweetest strokes in the NBA by wanting to be a playmaker/connector type instead of a dynamic off-ball scorer/secondary guy. And, even as the on-ball guy he was in his brief peak, he was still passive. I think he was overrated in the role he played and underrated for the role he wouldn't play.

But that's an aside. Deni is not Batum and seems to have more aggression to him at both ends. I trust he'll continue to grow as a scorer. Good player, good deal.

I'm happy to have dissenting views to mine on this. I really hope you all are right and I'm wrong, genuinely so but I'll forever be skeptical of guys having good stats on bad teams.

Go to the wizards board for a visit. They aren't happy right now usually if you like a player when you're rooting for a losing team that player is likely solid

[Jsun947]

This is a fantastic trade for us.

Deni will be entering his year 23 season so he is basically the same age as Dalton. He is able to defend 2-4 at a near elite level and is able to hold his own when switched to a 1 or 5. He is on a deal that is likely the best value contract in the NBA and it’s declining (15.6 / 14.3 / 13.1 / 11.8).

After the AS break he managed 17 / 9 / 4 on 60% TS. He plays the game the right way, creating for others without ball stopping. If his shot holds up he is going to be an All Star. As it stands, we have the second coming of Batum, but with more hustle and toughness.

He is absolutely a young core guy being about 2.5 years older than Sharpe, the same age as Dalton, a year older than Edey and the same age as Silva.

This kid is absolutely the best basketball player on the Blazers roster now.

The 2029 pick is my only worry, but I will need to see if any protections are on it. That being said, I would take Deni over anyone in this draft.

A core of Deni, Scoot, Sharpe and #7 is exciting. Will have 34 and 40 to play with as well.

Additionally, hopefully this means Grant is gone.

I think you could fairly argue that the negative comments so far in this thread have everything to do with the fact that Avdija is Jewish and nothing with who he is as a player, prospect, contract, etc.

I said keep the Palestine-Israel talk to the Current Affairs board.

If you can point me to where people in this thread are criticizing anything else about Deni other than his race or nationality please feel free to point me to it.

[tester551]

This is a fantastic trade for us.

Deni will be entering his year 23 season so he is basically the same age as Dalton. He is able to defend 2-4 at a near elite level and is able to hold his own when switched to a 1 or 5. He is on a deal that is likely the best value contract in the NBA and it’s declining (15.6 / 14.3 / 13.1 / 11.8).

After the AS break he managed 17 / 9 / 4 on 60% TS. He plays the game the right way, creating for others without ball stopping. If his shot holds up he is going to be an All Star. As it stands, we have the second coming of Batum, but with more hustle and toughness.

He is absolutely a young core guy being about 2.5 years older than Sharpe, the same age as Dalton, a year older than Edey and the same age as Silva.

This kid is absolutely the best basketball player on the Blazers roster now.

The 2029 pick is my only worry, but I will need to see if any protections are on it. That being said, I would take Deni over anyone in this draft.

A core of Deni, Scoot, Sharpe and #7 is exciting. Will have 34 and 40 to play with as well.

Additionally, hopefully this means Grant is gone.

I am just about here myself. I understand why others are hesitant about the 2029 pick (two of the three teams whose picks Portland owns could definitely suck) and investing in a good player now instead of continuing to stockpile future assets...

...I just don't share those views. Deni is just as valuable in trade (by definition) as what they gave up -- probably more so, since he also has a contract attached, meaning the Blazers give up less for matching salaries in a hypothetical trade for a star. He's a win-now, win-later, OR trade-later piece. This is more than can be said with any degree of certainty about the first rounders surrendered.

As for Batum, I think he's potentially better. Nic was (is?) a good player, but he wasted one of the quickest, sweetest strokes in the NBA by wanting to be a playmaker/connector type instead of a dynamic off-ball scorer/secondary guy. And, even as the on-ball guy he was in his brief peak, he was still passive. I think he was overrated in the role he played and underrated for the role he wouldn't play.

But that's an aside. Deni is not Batum and seems to have more aggression to him at both ends. I trust he'll continue to grow as a scorer. Good player, good deal.

I'm happy to have dissenting views to mine on this. I really hope you all are right and I'm wrong, genuinely so but I'll forever be skeptical of guys having good stats on bad teams.

So Grant, Simons, etc?

[The Sebastian Express]

I think you could fairly argue that the negative comments so far in this thread have everything to do with the fact that Avdija is Jewish and nothing with who he is as a player, prospect, contract, etc.

I said keep the Palestine-Israel talk to the Current Affairs board.

If you can point me to where people in this thread are criticizing anything else about Deni other than his race or nationality please feel free to point me to it.

There are multiple people, including on the first page, who are upset about the trade because of the amount of picks going out for what they view as a player who put up good stats on a bad team. Your inability to read that and instead focus on the people who brought in the Palestine-Israel war, who were not the only ones critical, is on you. Everyone has been told to keep the talk to the current affairs board and to focus on basketball. You should too rather than looking only for what you want to see.

[DusterBuster]

Oh wait, now I get why Woj worded the tweet that way for 2029 FRP. The Blazers had 3 FRPs that year, their giving which ever one is in the middle of the 3 picks.

Ugh. I'm reverse McDonalds right now, still not loving it. Happy to read posts from people who are tho.

[Jsun947]

I said keep the Palestine-Israel talk to the Current Affairs board.

If you can point me to where people in this thread are criticizing anything else about Deni other than his race or nationality please feel free to point me to it.

There are multiple people, including on the first page, who are upset about the trade because of the amount of picks going out for what they view as a player who put up good stats on a bad team. Your inability to read that and instead focus on the people who brought in the Palestine-Israel war, who were not the only ones critical, is on you. Everyone has been told to keep the talk to the current affairs board and to focus on basketball. You should too rather than looking only for what you want to see.

If people are complaining about spending the 14th pick, and the 2nd worst of our three 2029 1st rounders, then they are complaining about the cost, not specifically about Deni Advija so I stand by what I said.

As for having concern about the cost, that's understandable, although I think it's silly given that as of right now we don't know who would be available at #14, let alone how good that player is reasonably likely to be.

[mighty_duck]

Deni is a great jack-of-all trades type player. Great court-vision for a forward, good defense and hustle. If he can get his shots to fall like they did last year, we have a cornerstone. I worry about some regression in that department.
But this is a happy day so far. Good job Cronin!

[Blaze the Nugz]

I love this trade. Good young player on an insanely good contract. He's only owed $12 million in his age 27 season. By then it could very well be the best contract in the NBA. We don't know what the market was for Malcolm Brogdon. Probably could have gotten a late FRP for him, but we don't need late FRPs; we need talent and Avdija is very talented. I fully expect him to win over those in this forum panning the trade.

[Norm2953]

To be honest, Deni hasn't been anything special until this season and comparisons to Nic
are unfair for Nic was an elite athlete

Still a solid trade for 14 might not have gotten Edey and Portland was looking at guys like Carter
or perhaps J' Kobe Walter. Should be a good fit with Jerami Grant

[PDXKnight]

I honestly think Deni is about as impactful as Bridges at the cost of 3 less firsts and locked up for 4 years (bridges will get a mega extension in 2 years). Sounds like purely from a value standpoint we did good. It could be constituted as fair value I'd say, but wings especially playmaking/defending wings who can hit the 3 tend to cost way more than fair value. So at best we got our sfotf given his age (only 23) and team friendly contract, worst case we got a very tradeable asset.

[Jsun947]

Now that we've past #14 who would have preferred to pair Carrington, Ware, McCain, or Knecht instead of Deni with Scoot, Sharpe & Clingon? At best any of those guys would be playing 5 minutes per game on our current roster.

[Butter]

Deni is a great jack-of-all trades type player. Great court-vision for a forward, good defense and hustle. If he can get his shots to fall like they did last year, we have a cornerstone. I worry about some regression in that department.
But this is a happy day so far. Good job Cronin!

The Blazere have a lot of athletic wings who are not pure shooters. What is their wing SF depth look like as of today?

Deni
Camara
Matice
Rupert
Murray

They need more trades

[Jsun947]

Deni is a great jack-of-all trades type player. Great court-vision for a forward, good defense and hustle. If he can get his shots to fall like they did last year, we have a cornerstone. I worry about some regression in that department.
But this is a happy day so far. Good job Cronin!

The Blazere have a lot of athletic wings who are not pure shooters. What is their wing SF depth look like as of today?

Deni
Camara
Matice
Rupert
Murray

They need more trades

In all fairness I don't think Rupert or Murray are NBA players and Thybulle definitely should be traded. We should all keep in mind that this season teams can use their MLE as a trade exception so Thybulle or Williams will potentially have more trade partners during free agency.

[Bigpoppapomp82]

One of the few trades where I think both teams made out well. Deni is the best 3 we have had since Wes/Nico. Contract is one of the best in the NBA. Also duck under the luxury tax.

Washington had a good draft.

Now if we can just find deals for RW3, Grant, Simons by the deadline and accumulate as many 25 or 26 firsts as humanly possible Cronin might have just saved his job. I still think they should fire him, promote Schmitz and sell to Uncle Phil and bring a championship back to the Rose City!

[m0ng0]

This team is trash and it's going to stay trash with current ownership.

move on already

[Shem]

Watch on YouTube

[Pattycakes]

Watch on YouTube

Lfg

[Moonbeam]

Pretty happy with this trade as it balances the roster a bit and Deni has a good contract.