(sabasports report)The Washington Wizards have traded 23-year-old forward Deni Avdija to the Portland Trail Blazers in the West, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski Blazers) in exchange for Nassir Little, the No. 14 pick in the 2024 first round, the 2029 first round pick and two second-round picks.
The Wizards failed to make the playoffs in the second and fourth seasons, but Afdiya has been a good player for the team, averaging 14.7 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 75 regular season games while shooting 50.6 percent from the field and 37.4 percent from 3-point range. The 23-year-old forward from Israel, who is 2.06 meters tall, was drafted by the Wizards with the ninth overall pick in the 2020 first round and has played four seasons in the NBA.
As a rebuilding team, the Wizards are undoubtedly making this trade to acquire more future draft picks in order to have more flexibility when rebuilding in the future. The Blazers, who are also in a rebuilding period, are likely to see Afdiya’s long-term potential and are willing to trade Brogdon and multiple draft picks for the 23-year-old forward.
The deal has its own considerations for both sides, with the Wizards getting more options for the future and the Blazers bringing in a talented young forward to build a foundation for their team. Both sides are positioning themselves for the future.