Sports11:52 · 14m ago

Portland's Gamble on Ja Morant Raises Doubts About Deni Avdija's Future

WallaCenter

Translated & summarized from Walla by baba

Key points

01Portland's trade for Ja Morant is seen as a puzzling move risking poor defensive backcourt performance.
02Both Morant and Damian Lillard are weak defenders, with Lillard recovering from a major injury.
03Morant and Deni Avdija have overlapping offensive styles, potentially limiting team synergy.
04Avdija's declining defense and reduced offensive role may hinder his contract extension talks.
05Morant's large salary commitments contrast with Avdija's expected refusal of early contract renewal.
06Analysts warn the trade might weaken Portland despite its low cost, unlike Memphis's optimistic trade outcome.

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OrganizationsPortland Trail Blazers, Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, New Orleans Pelicans, NBA

PlacesPortland, Memphis, Los Angeles

The story · English

The Portland Trail Blazers' recent decision to acquire Ja Morant has sparked significant skepticism among NBA analysts, including American journalist Sam Quinn. Quinn labeled the move as one of the most puzzling during the NBA offseason, comparing it to the ill-fitting trade that brought Russell Westbrook to the Los Angeles Lakers. He highlighted that Portland had previously built a strong defensive backcourt around Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday, but now risks fielding one of the worst defensive backcourts in NBA history with Morant and Lillard, both known for weak defense. Lillard, 36, is also recovering from an Achilles tendon tear, while Morant has faced numerous injuries throughout his career.

Quinn also raised concerns about the fit between Morant and Israeli player Deni Avdija, noting that both players rely heavily on driving to the basket and lack sufficient shooting to complement each other offensively. Avdija, once a strong defender, has seen a decline in that area recently. Quinn suggested that Portland might be betting on Avdija focusing more on defense with less offensive responsibility, but warned that rising stars typically resist giving up ball control. This uneasy fit could complicate Portland's efforts to negotiate a contract extension with Avdija, whose current deal runs through 2027.

Morant is set to earn $42.1 million next season and $44.8 million in 2027-28. While Portland might try to extend Avdija's contract before it expires, the Israeli player is expected to decline, aiming for a free-agent deal in 2028 potentially worth up to $316 million over five years. Quinn concluded that Portland's low-cost acquisition of Morant does not guarantee an improved team and may even weaken it, contrasting with Memphis's optimistic outlook after trading Morant. The article also referenced other questionable NBA moves this offseason, including Milwaukee's large contract to Gary Trent Jr. and trades involving Jayson Brown and DeAndre Jordan. No official responses from the involved parties have been reported yet.

Read the original at Walla