Israeli Basketballer Deni Avdija's Future With Portland Trail Blazers Uncertain

Speculation is mounting in American sports media regarding the future of Israeli basketball player Deni Avdija with the Portland Trail Blazers, as his contract is set to expire in the summer of 2028. A blog post on "Rip City Project" by Rhys Kuntz suggests the team's current approach could lead Avdija, 25, to seek opportunities elsewhere. Kuntz's analysis stems from comments made by Sam Quinn of CBS on the "Third Apron" podcast, who identified Avdija as a potential target for the Dallas Mavericks, looking to acquire a star player to complement Cooper Flagg. Quinn stated that Avdija is a "realistic candidate" and that Dallas should prepare for his potential availability.

Quinn described the Trail Blazers as a "sinking team" that is not doing enough to secure Avdija's long-term contract. He believes there is a "very good chance" Avdija will become a free agent in 2028, with Dallas being a likely destination. Kuntz highlighted the contract structure as a potential issue for Portland. While Avdija's current contract, paying him $13.1 million this season and $11.9 million in 2027-28, is considered favorable to the team due to its decreasing annual amounts, this structure complicates an extension.

According to NBA rules for veteran player extensions, Portland can offer Avdija up to 140% of his final contract year's salary or use his current contract's average annual value. Even with the latter, a 140% increase on his $13.75 million average would only reach $19.25 million, which Quinn argues is insufficient. Kuntz suggests Portland may need to renegotiate and extend his contract, a move that might have influenced potential trades of Jeremy Grant and Jrue Holiday to free up salary cap space.

Avdija, the Trail Blazers' first All-Star since Damian Lillard, has emerged as a key player during their rebuilding phase. Kuntz questions why the team didn't prioritize extending his contract after his breakout season. He points out that Portland failed to clear salary cap space for a new deal and failed to surround him with better complementary players, particularly shooters. This inaction, Kuntz argues, risks Avdija leaving for a team like Dallas, especially given the addition of another talent, Ja Morant, potentially at Avdija's expense, which he deems a "puzzling approach" that should have focused on building around their new star.