The Washington Wizards are trading forward Deni Avdija to Portland Trail Blazers for guard Malcolm Brogdon and the No. 14 pick in Wednesday’s draft, ESPN’s Wojnarowski reports.
News of the trade broke in the hours leading up to the draft.
Avdija is coming off his fourth NBA season since the Wizards selected him with the ninth pick of the 2020 draft. He started 75 games last season, averaging 14.7 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game while shooting 50.6% from the field and 37.4% from 3-point distance. The numbers were all career highs in his first season as a full-time starter, and he earned votes for Most Improved Player of the Year.
A 23-year-old wing, Avdija joins a young core in Portland featuring 20-year-old point guard Scoot Henderson, 21-year-old guard Shaedon Sharpe, 25-year-old guard Anfernee Simons and 25-year-old center Deandre Ayton.
Brogdon, 31, averaged 15.7 points, 5.5 assists and 3.8 rebounds in an injury-limited single season in Portland after arriving via trade from the Boston Celtics. A player more suited to contribute to a contender, it’s not clear where he fits into plans for a Wizards team that finished 15-67 last season and doesn’t project to compete for the playoffs next season as constructed.
The No. 14 pick, obviously, helps the Wizards as they build for the future. Washington now has the No. 2, No. 14 and No. 26 picks in the first round of the draft.
