As we continue our series of positional previews (we had pre- And Playmaker previews after Malcolm Brogdon tradeas well as shooting guard position overview), the evaluation turns to the wing, where Portland made a big move via trade this offseason.
The Trail Blazers traded 2023 Sixth Man of the Year Brogdon’s expiring $22.5 million contract, the rights to the 2024 No. 14 overall pick (which turned out to be Bub Carrington), a 2029 first-round pick and a pair of future linebackers to the Washington Wizards in exchange for small forward Deni Avdija, who now appears likely to start for Portland in 2024-25.
Learn more: Will the traded former Blazer finish his career with the new team?
But how will the reserve minutes be distributed behind him, on a Portland club that appears likely to finish out of the playoff race next spring?
The Wizards selected the 6-foot-1 Israeli forward with the ninth overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft. His stats have improved significantly in his third season in 2023-24. The 23-year-old appeared in 75 games for the Wizards last year, averaging 14.7 points on a .506/.374/.740 hitting line, 7.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.5 blocks per game. He finished sixth in the Most Improved Player category.
In 2024-25, Avdija will enter the first year of his four-year, $55 million contract, signed last summer. He could see his scoring and assists improve significantly this year.
Upon joining the Trail Blazers midway through the 2023-24 season, the 2.05m wing averaged career-best 16.7 points on a .408/.311/.780 slash line, 4.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.6 blocks per game in 30 games. Able to slot in at the point and on the wing, the 24-year-old could legitimately push Avdija for the starting job. His track record surpasses Avdija’s, though the latter has room to grow.
Walker, who is just 22, was selected with the 57th overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft. After playing a limited role for Portland as a rookie, he saw his playing time increase significantly, from 11.1 to 23.6 in 2023-24. The 2.05-year-old Colorado product averaged 8.9 points while posting .460/.295/.754 averages, 7.1 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 0.6 steals in 72 games (23 starts).
More Trail Blazers: Portland Position Overview: Shooting Guard
