Dec 26, 2024; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson (00) celebrates with small forward Deni Avdija (8) after making the game-winning basket against the Utah Jazz at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-Imagn Images Soobum Im-Imagn Images

Blazers Could Have All-Star on Roster Next Season

Originally posted on Portland Trail Blazers on SI
By Alex Kirschenbaum | Last updated May 17, 2025 5:00 PM ET

Things are looking up for the Portland Trail Blazers.

Despite missing out on the opportunity to jump into the top 10 in Monday's draft lottery, the club will still draft an elite player in one of the more (supposedly) loaded college classes in recent memory via the No. 11 pick in June's 2025 NBA Draft.

Portland finished with a respectable 36-46 record on the year, while blatantly sitting players down the season's home stretch (meaning their record could have been better, had they still been trying to win late). Young forward Toumani Camara, rookie center Donovan Clingan, and guards Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe all showed signs of growth.

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Henderson's counting stats may have been low in his new permanent reserve role, but his shooting from the field improved and his defense stopped being quite as atrocious as it had been during his 2023-24 rookie season.

But there's one young piece, in particular, who looks like he may have All-Star upside.

Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian submits that 6-foot-9 forward Deni Avdija, following an incredibly encouraging final stretch during his debut season in Portland, could be take another massive leap in Year 2 with the franchise.

Is Deni Avdija a star in the making?: Trail Blazers season review/look ahead https://t.co/QgoDQp7pFP
— Oregonian Sports (@OregonianSports) May 16, 2025

"All-Star? Maybe?" Fentress posits of Avdija's ceiling next year. "Avdija established himself as a force during his final 15 appearances, averaging 24.1 points, 10.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists. He shot 51.5% from the field and 44.2% from long distance during that stretch."

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Over the course of the full year, the 24-year-old logged a career-best 16.9 points on .476/.365/.780 shooting splits, along with additional career highs of 7.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.0 steals a night, across 72 contests (just 54 starts).

Avdija's size and strength made him an especially tough cover for rival small forwards. His developing acumen as a distributor suggests he could become one of the most multi-dimensional threats at his position across the league. A lot still needs to happen for him to become an All-Star, but the former No. 9 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft clearly has the tools to succeed.

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This article first appeared on Portland Trail Blazers on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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