Danny Avdija Faces New Role Challenges as Portland Trail Blazers Reshape Team
Translated & summarized from N12 by baba
Israeli NBA star Danny Avdija faces a new challenge as Portland Trail Blazers add Ja Morant and Damian Lillard, requiring him to share ball handling. Despite this, Avdija remains highly valued for his breakout 2025/26 season and will need to adapt to a new team hierarchy and coaching strategy.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Danny Avdija must share ball handling after Portland acquired Ja Morant and Damian Lillard.
- Portland's new coach Mike Norrie plans a slower, more strategic offense aiming for playoff success.
- Avdija earned his first NBA All-Star selection with career-high stats last season.
- Basket Plus ranked Avdija second among NBA players under $20 million for cost-effectiveness.
- Avdija's $13.125 million salary for 2026/27 is considered a bargain given his production.
- Portland's roster changes create competition among at least four primary playmakers.
Following a breakout season, Israeli NBA player Danny Avdija is entering a new phase with the Portland Trail Blazers as the team significantly reshaped its roster this summer. Portland acquired Ja Morant and welcomed back Damian Lillard, creating a more complex hierarchy and competition for ball handling among at least four primary playmakers. This shift means Avdija, who thrived as the main ball handler last season, will need to adapt to sharing the ball more and adjusting to a new offensive system under coach Mike Norrie, who aims not just for playoff qualification but for deep postseason success.
Blazers Edge, a site dedicated to covering Portland, analyzed the situation, noting that the offense may slow down with Lillard's return and that Avdija "will likely have to give up some ball control." Despite these challenges, Avdija continues to receive recognition for his outstanding 2025/26 season. Basket Plus magazine ranked him second among the top ten most cost-effective NBA players under $20 million, behind only Victor Wembanyama. They highlighted his role as the primary creator, his 41-point performance in the play-in tournament, and his 22.2 points per game average in the playoffs, emphasizing that his $13.125 million salary for the upcoming season is an excellent value.
In his sixth NBA season, Avdija posted career highs with 24.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game, earning his first All-Star selection. The upcoming 2026/27 season will test his ability to maintain dominance within a more crowded and strategically diverse team environment.
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