The Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday officially announced the trade for forward Deni Avdija from the Washington Wizards in exchange for guard Malcolm Brogdon and draft picks.
News of the trade broke June 26 during the first round of the 2024 NBA draft, but per NBA rules, the deal could not be announced until July 6.
The Blazers traded Brogdon, the 14th pick in last month’s draft, used to select Bub Carrington, plus a first-round pick in 2029 and second-round picks in 2028 and 2030.
The Wizards will receive the second most desirable pick of the Blazers’ three first-round selections in 2029. In addition to their own pick in 2029, the Blazers own the rights to Boston’s pick and Milwaukee’s pick stemming from the series of trades last summer that sent Damian Lillard to the Bucks.
The Wizards selected Avdija, 23, with the ninth pick in the 2020 NBA draft. After three mediocre seasons, Avdija put up a career-high 14.7 points per game last season, shooting 50.6% from the field and 37.4% from beyond the arc in 75 starts.
Avdija, who will wear jersey No. 8, projects to start for the Blazers, who are committed to building around young guards Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson.
The Blazers are reportedly shopping around forward Jerami Grant. Dealing him would open up the power forward position for Avdija. Grant would likely move to small forward if a deal doesn’t transpire while Avdija starts at power forward.
The Blazers also officially announced the details surrounding moves made in the draft’s second round.
The Blazers acquired the draft rights to the 52nd-overall selection, Quinten Post, and cash considerations from Oklahoma City for the draft rights to the 40th-overall pick, Osasere Ighodaro.
The Blazers then traded the rights to Post to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for cash considerations.
Earlier in the second round, the Blazers traded the No. 34 pick, used to select guard Tyler Kolek out of Marquette, to the New York Knicks for three future second-round picks. That deal was made official during the second day of the draft.
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-- Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook)