Portland Trail Blazers GM Optimistic About Extending Deni Avdija's Contract

Portland Trail Blazers General Manager Joe Cronin expressed optimism regarding the potential contract extension for Israeli forward Deni Avdija. Speaking at the team's media day on Monday, ahead of the 2026-2027 NBA season, Cronin acknowledged that contract negotiations are complex but stated he is not worried about reaching an agreement.

Cronin detailed that Avdija's contract situation is intricate and not a straightforward extension. The team can begin negotiating an extension starting October 2nd. He indicated that the team needs to utilize their remaining salary cap space strategically to accommodate Avdija's needs and the team's objectives, drawing a parallel to the situation with Scott Henderson.

"It's something we're very busy with, investing a lot of time," Cronin said. "His contract is complicated, it's not a simple contract extension. We will need to negotiate to extend his contract, and we will need to use what we have left until the salary cap. We are trying to time it well to succeed in doing it so that his needs and ours are met."

Cronin also addressed the team's acquisition of Ja Morant, revealing he contacted key backcourt players, including Avdija, beforehand. He aimed to ensure everyone was on the same page regarding the team's goal of building a highly talented roster that requires players to learn to play together and make sacrifices for team success. Cronin believes the team is committed to becoming as high-quality as possible.