Deni Avdija’s All-Star Leap Is Forcing an Uncomfortable Question

Damian Lillard may be back with the Portland Trail Blazers, but with the franchise star sidelined, Deni Avdija has become the Blazers’ offensive engine. Avdija’s rise into a star-level role has become one of the league’s most striking developments of the 2025-26 season. That ascent has inevitably reframed the conversation around the trade that brought him to Portland, especially as voices from Washington and around the NBA weigh in.

This week, Michael Winger, the president of basketball operations for the Washington Wizards, addressed that decision directly. Despite Avdija’s breakout, Winger made it clear the Wizards have no regrets.

“No, it was not a mistake. We’re all very happy for Deni. We saw Deni as a very high-level ascending player…but no, we did it for the reasons we said then which was to take us back a couple of years so we could reset the roster and so that everybody was on the same age curve and Deni’s ahead of that.”

From Portland’s side, that explanation only highlights why the deal has worked so cleanly. The Blazers did not acquire Avdija to fit a curve. They acquired him to bend defenses.

A role change that unlocked his ceiling

In Washington, Avdija filled gaps. He defended across positions, moved the ball, and attacked when lanes opened. Even during his best season with the Wizards in 2023-24, he operated as a secondary option. His usage stayed limited because the roster prioritized flexibility and long-term assets. In Portland, that limitation disappeared.

Instead, the Blazers handed Avdija the offense and asked him to lead. As a result, his numbers exploded. Through January of the 2025-26 season, he is averaging 26.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 6.9 assists while shooting 47 percent from the field. He ranks among the league leaders in both scoring and assists. More importantly, he leads the NBA in drives.

That pressure has changed how opponents defend Portland. It has also changed how coaches talk about Avdija.

After the Blazers’ 127-120 win over Miami, Erik Spoelstra offered a blunt assessment of Avdija’s growth.

“When he played in Washington, we faced him a lot. There were several games where he had the kind of usage you’re seeing now, and he was a problem then, but it wasn’t on a consistent basis.
The trade was probably the best thing that ever happened to him. He’s having an All-Star year. He’s leading the league in drives and attacks. It shows you how rugged and physical he is as an attacker.”

That word “consistent” defines the difference. In Washington, Avdija flashed. In Portland, he controls games.

Why the trade looks different now

At the time, the deal was framed as a classic “win-now wing versus draft capital” swap. In the trade, Portland sent out Malcolm Brogdon and multiple picks, including a 2024 lottery selection that became Bub Carrington and a valuable 2029 first, in exchange for a young forward on a team-friendly extension. Less than two seasons later, the calculus has shifted.

Avdija is not a complementary wing anymore. He initiates offense, runs pick-and-roll, and closes games. Portland spaces the floor around his strength, not the other way around. As a result, the Blazers have found a centerpiece without waiting for the draft.

Meanwhile, Winger’s comments reinforce the reality on both sides. Washington chose alignment and patience. Portland chose role expansion and upside. Both paths made sense. However, only one unlocked a star. Right now, Avdija looks like Portland’s first true franchise player since Lillard. He is also doing it at 23, on a team-friendly contract, with room to grow. That outcome does not mean the Wizards were wrong. It does mean the Blazers were right.