Mar 25, 2025; Portland, Oregon, USA: Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8), guard Shaedon Sharpe (17), center Donovan Clingan (23) and Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) fight for a loose ball in the first half at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-Imagn Images Jaime Valdez-Imagn Images

One Blazers Player is 'Virtual Lock' to Return Next Year

Originally posted on Portland Trail Blazers on SI
By Alex Kirschenbaum | Last updated May 18, 2025 1:00 PM ET

A Portland Trail Blazers standout is expected back for 2025-26.

Though the team didn't make the playoffs for a fourth straight season under newly extended head coach Chauncey Billups, major positive signs emerged that Portland was trending upwards in 2024-25.

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The Trail Blazers finished with an encouraging 36-46 record — and that was with some tank-happy lineups during the last two weeks or so — and seemed to develop a real defense-first identity with their young core of second-year forward Toumani Camara and rookie center Donovan Clingan.

On offense, however, one young star emerged head and shoulders above the rest as the year wrapped up.

Forward Deni Avdija could have been the top under-the-radar trade acquisition of the 2024 offseason. The 6-foot-9 pro, still just 24, averaged an impressive 19.8 points on .492/.369/.774 shooting splits, 8.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.1 steals after the calendar year flipped over to 2025. Wisely, Portland sat Avdija out for the season's final four games, in an effort to lose those games. The Trail Blazers went 2-2.

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In a new assessment of Avdija, Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian notes that he considers Avdija a "virtual lock" to return in 2025-26.

"Trading Avdija would require getting back an All-NBA level talent," Fentress asserts.

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

The fates of guards Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson seem a bit more tenuous, although since both are still on their rookie-scale salaries for now (Sharpe becomes extension-eligible this summer) it seems likely the team will hold onto them at least until they get too pricey.

Starting Trail Blazers point guard Anfernee Simons, who's a player of the shoot-first, pass-later variety, may face a murkier future with the team.

Portland will be adding one hopefully core piece component next month, when it selects a young prospect with the No. 11 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Avdija has true All-Star upside. Whether or not he realizes that could determine just how far this Portland squad goes next year.

More Portland Trail Blazers News:

Blazers Ownership Officially Announces Plan to Sell Team

Blazers' Potential Contract Options For Shaedon Sharpe Extension

Blazers Could Land $50 Million All-Star in Epic Trade Idea

Blazers Face Major Contract Extension Decisions on Multiple Stars

Blazers Star Shaedon Sharpe Reveals Major Summer Goal

Blazers Star's Viral Dunk Named Best of NBA Season

For all the latest news and notes on the Portland Trail Blazers, visit Portland Trail Blazers on SI.

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