Deni Avdija ☆ Follow

Starts 2 of 2 games · 1st on POR in minutes · Core role

Situational splits: turn on Prediction tools.

Every situation, with four seasons of history →

• Podcast Locked On Blazers · 6 points · 14 h ago
  • Mike Richman: Deni Avdija scored 18 of his team-high 26 in the second half, with 7 rebounds and 6 assists, shooting 8 of 16 from the field and 1 of 5 from three. at 6:48
  • Mike Richman: Deni Avdija took 8 free throws before the intentional fouling at the end and went 7 of 9 on twos. The host calls the free throws big for him. at 24:31
  • Mike Richman: With 1:50 left, Jrue Holiday replaced Ja Morant. Portland played three possessions (two defensive, one offensive) with Lillard, Holiday, Camara, Avdija and Clingan. These were not offense-defense swaps. at 15:40
  • Mike Richman: Host opinion: Lillard-Holiday-Camara-Avdija-Clingan is "perhaps" the Blazers' best lineup. at 15:57
  • Mike Richman: Micah Nori also took Deni Avdija off for about 1:30 in the middle of the quarter to rest him. at 17:57
  • Mike Richman: The host implies the starters were Lillard, Morant, Camara, Avdija and Clingan and credits that group with winning the second half. at 25:09

  “Trail Blazers' 3rd Quarter Surge Enough to Down Kings | The Depth Delivers & Crunch Time Choices” · listen ↗

• Podcast Gil's Arena host · Report · Oct 24 around the league

  Deni Avdija had 18 points and 10 rebounds in the opener. Toumani Camara had 18.

  “Sixers Erase A MASSIVE 29-Point Deficit, SGA Ends His Streak & Jaylen Brown Calls CAP On Tatum!_1 Part 2” at 30:54 · listen ↗

  also reported by KG Certified host, Locked On Blazers host, Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin), Mike Richman, Locked On Blazers

• Story ESPN · Article · Oct 24

  Deni Avdija scores 26 points to lead Trail Blazers in win over Kings

  source ↗

• Podcast The Athletic NBA Daily host · Analysis · Oct 23 name not confirmed around the league

  Donovan Clingan set big screens that left Lillard wide open. Portland's guard depth, with wings Camara and Avdija plus point-of-attack defenders Jrue Holiday and Scoot, is called 'almost a perfect Damian Lillard team'.

  “The Thunder Are Inevitable + Philly Trusts the Process” at 27:01 · listen ↗

• X Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) · Report · Oct 22

  "(Donovan) Clingan hit a couple. Then Ja (Morant) hit one, Deni (Avdija) hit one I think from the right side. Those felt like they were contested and then we couldn't any force offensively. They were great, they were physical defensively. Their big was back in drop. Got to make a

  original post ↗

• RotoWire Jason Quick of The Athletic · Report · Oct 21

  Deni Avdija: Good to go Wednesday — Avdija (ankle) is available for Wednesday's game against the Suns, Jason Quick of The Athletic reports.

  source ↗

  also reported by Jason Quick (@jwquick)

• Podcast Locked On Blazers · 4 points · Oct 23
  • team injury report (reported): Deni Avdija is not on the injury report for the Kings game. In the opener he went from questionable to warming up pregame and then played. at 25:43
  • Micah Nori (reported): Micah Nori, there was no acute injury in practice. Avdija's foot, not his ankle, was giving him trouble and he got it checked out. The host adds that it sounds like a pain issue. at 25:56
  • Mike Richman: Host analysis: having several players who can create advantages off the dribble (Lillard, Morant, Avdija) means off-ball players get less attention. at 15:41
  • Mike Richman: Host analysis: Toumani Camara's role has been shrunk a bit. He should get fewer pull-up transition threes and more half-court catch-and-shoot threes. Avdija was the engine of the offense last year and now has players to kick out to. at 26:57

  “Trail Blazers Were Spectacular in Game 1. What's Real & What's Noise After a Special Opening Night?” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Blazers host · Open question · Oct 22

  Open question: how often Lillard, Morant and Avdija ("Danny") share the floor. The host started tracking it but dropped it once the game became a blowout.

  “Trail Blazers Scorch Suns in Season Opener | Damian Lillard's Return to Portland & Ja Morant's Debut” at 27:17 · listen ↗

• X Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) · Report · Oct 21

  Lineup alert: Sidy Cissoko will start if Deni Avdija (ankle) is ruled out Wednesday, per coach Nori.

  original post ↗

• X Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) · Report · Oct 21

  Blazers All-Star Deni Avdija (ankle) game-time decision, says Micah Nori. Said he needs to do pregame work before making a call.

  original post ↗

• Podcast The Athletic NBA Daily · 3 points · Oct 21
  • The host will watch how many minutes Ja and Dame share in week one, and whether those lineups can survive defensively or find enough offense with Avdija. at 31:27
  • Andrew flatly does not think the Ja/Dame setup will work. He calls Avdija an all-star who led the league in drives last year and who now has to remake his game. at 31:47
  • In Portland's defensive lineups with Ja and Dame, there is heavy pressure on Avdija ('Denny'), Camara and Clingan to clean everything up. at 32:23

  “BIG NBA Questions: Slam N Jam LIVE!” · listen ↗

• X Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) · Report · Oct 21

  Suns injury report: QUESTIONABLE: Luke Kennard (left knee tendinopathy). OUT: Mark Williams (left shoulder surgery). Blazers injury report: QUESTIONABLE: Deni Avdija (right ankle soreness), Micah Potter (illness). OUT: Shaedon Sharpe (right meniscus surgery), Branden Carlson

  original post ↗

• Podcast Locked On Blazers · 6 points · Oct 21
  • Micah Nori (reported): Mike Inori spoke with reporters that afternoon but did not mention Deni Avdija's injury or availability. The host says he has no details. at 6:25
  • Mike Richman: The host expects Deni Avdija's status to probably be a game-time decision or settled right before the game. at 8:11
  • Mike Richman: The host expects Dylan Brooks to probably start out guarding Deni Avdija. He notes Avdija was too fast for Brooks last year. He asks who on the Suns guards Morant and Lillard. at 8:55
  • Mike Richman: Last season the Blazers beat the Suns in the play-in. Deni Avdija scored 41, and the Blazers came back in the final three minutes. at 2:12
  • Mike Richman: Prediction: Deni Avdija leads the team in scoring and makes his second straight All-Star game. at 16:04
  • Mike Richman: The host describes the ideal structure: put the ball in Deni Avdija's hands, with above-average shooters spaced around him and a strong roll man setting screens. He thought the Blazers would take this path at one point, but they didn't. at 29:07

  “Trail Blazers vs. Suns Season Opener Preview | Bold Predictions and The Disappearing Lineup Trick” · listen ↗

• ESPN ESPN · Report · Oct 20

  Avdija is questionable for Wednesday's game against the Suns due to right ankle soreness.

  source ↗

• Podcast Locked On Blazers · 5 points · Oct 20
  • Live show: a speaker thinks Deni Avdija will thrive and post something like 25/6/6. at 28:05
  • Live show: the speaker's biggest preseason takeaway is Deni Avdija having much more space and open lanes next to the new guards. at 29:45
  • Live show: a speaker expects Avdija to play fewer minutes, with less pressure and wear, and to stay healthier and fresher. at 31:24
  • Micah Nori (reported): Live show: Micah Nori reportedly said after a game, possibly the "London game" (the speaker wasn't sure), that Avdija will play shorter shifts, three per quarter, instead of last year's 8-9 minute stints. name not confirmed at 31:34
  • Live show: a speaker expects Avdija's assists to drop, and says he won't need as many. at 32:09

  “Scoot Henderson is Set Up for a Prove It Year After Not Signing an Extension with the Trail Blazers” · listen ↗

• Podcast Zach Lowe, The Zach Lowe Show · Analysis · Oct 19 around the league

  Zach: Portland can't realistically extend Avdija because 140% of his current salary is nowhere near his market value. He came up as a trade name, but Zach is a no on that.

  “Knicks Preview, Playoff Picks, Finals Predictions, and More!” at 1:02:25 · listen ↗

• Podcast Hardwood Knocks · 2 points · Oct 19
  • Dan says that number has to come down given the other options around him. at 38:32
  • Mort would stagger Avdija and Morant and wouldn't worry about splitting minutes between them. He notes Avdija had back problems last year, so fewer drives could be good for him. at 42:11

  “1 Big Question For Every NBA Teams In The Western Conference” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Blazers · 2 points · Oct 19
  • Mike Richman: The host thought Deni Avdija was not very good but not bad. The Warriors guarded him well early, and he got going later. at 3:21
  • Mike Richman: "They" keep talking about Deni Avdija as a good defender; the speaker is unspecified. The host says moving from high-usage offensive engine to two-way role is an adjustment worth monitoring. at 7:25

  “Trail Blazers Struggle in Preseason Finale vs Golden State Warriors | Portland Waives Jeremy Sochan” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Blazers · 4 points · Oct 16
  • The guest says Deni Avdija is locked in to close games. at 6:37
  • Mike Richman: The host doesn't think they can go small with Toumani Camara or Deni Avdija at the five because they could not rebound. He thinks it probably has to be one of the bigs and probably can't be Holiday. at 8:41
  • Mike Richman: The host says Deni Avdija was a borderline All-NBA player last year and would probably have made All-NBA comfortably if he had not been hurt in January. A back injury is mentioned later. at 20:52
  • The guest thinks the team has top-10 offensive potential, especially in Deni Avdija's minutes with the main personnel on the court, possibly the equivalent of a top-five offense. at 24:47

  “Trail Blazers Outlook: Adding Ja Morant, Scoot Henderson's Upside, Deni Avdija's Ascension and More” · listen ↗

• Podcast Mike Richman, Locked On Blazers · Analysis · Oct 15

  The host lists the offensive pieces as Ja Morant, Deni Avdija, Lillard, Scoot Henderson stepping forward, and Jrue Holiday, whom he calls darn useful last year.

  “Travis Demers Named Trail Blazers TV Broadcaster | Jeremy Sochan Season Preview” at 17:15 · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Blazers · 10 points · Oct 14
  • Mike Richman: Host's estimate: in a normal regular-season game Deni Avdija would play roughly seven or eight more minutes than his 25 here. at 3:41
  • Mike Richman: Host's view: Deni Avdija has been the Blazers' best player all preseason. at 3:55
  • Mike Richman: Portland has been getting Deni Avdija to his strong right-hand drive, either by spacing the floor and letting him attack or by giving him the ball on the move through handoffs from Ja Morant. at 5:07
  • Mike Richman: When Lillard and Deni Avdija share the floor, the host sees a clean your-turn/my-turn split. Avdija has the ball most of the time, and Lillard fits in around him. at 4:12
  • Mike Richman: Host says Deni Avdija might have a little less usage alongside Morant and needed less usage anyway, since he was asked to do too much last year. at 6:33
  • Mike Richman: Host does not think Ja Morant has looked as comfortable in an off-ball role as Lillard or Avdija, who are better spot-up shooters, especially Lillard. at 11:51
  • Mike Richman: Host predicts that if Morant and Deni Avdija both get to the free throw line a lot, the Blazers will probably be a very good offensive team. at 13:32
  • Mike Richman: The host found a five-man group of Lillard, Jrue Holiday, Morant, Avdija and Robert Williams III the most compelling lineup of the game. He imagines Portland will use it more. at 16:33
  • Mike Richman: In that group, Deni Avdija initiated with the guards in the corners. Robert Williams III gave vertical spacing as a rim roller, which helps offset defenses sagging off non-shooters. at 17:49
  • Mike Richman: Host says Lillard is opportunistic on a team that plays fast. He trails in transition for threes when Morant, Avdija or even Toumani Camara pushes the ball. at 22:13

  “What We Have (Not) Learned About Deni Avdija, Damian Lillard & Ja Morant in Trail Blazers Preseason” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Blazers · 6 points · Oct 12
  • Host prediction: the Blazers will start the same five they started in preseason, at least to begin the season: Ja Morant, Lillard (heard "Damian Lord"), Toumani Camara, Deni Avdija, and Donovan Clingan. at 16:34
  • Preseason game one, second sub: Avdija (heard "Denny") came back in for Camara (heard "Tumani"), and Robert Williams III came in for Clingan (heard "Donovan Klingon"). at 17:01
  • Preseason game one: the Blazers closed the first quarter with Holiday (heard "Drew"), Lillard ("Dame", who came back in for Ja after going out on the first sub), Scoot Henderson (who came in late), Avdija and Rob Williams. at 17:23
  • Preseason game one: the Blazers started the second quarter with Scoot, Lillard, Avdija, Vit Krejci and Clingan. Krejci saw his first action as the 10th man. at 17:43
  • Host analysis: the Lillard–Avdija (heard "Dame and Denny") pairing works more cleanly because of Lillard's shooting, both catch-and-shoot and off the dribble late in the clock. at 7:35
  • Open question: how will Ja Morant and Avdija (heard "Denny") work together? Avdija could be a spot-up or second-side attacker, or he may need to be the main initiator, e.g. a 65-35 split with Ja. at 6:59

  “Can the Trail Blazers Find Their Best Lineups In Preseason? | A Sabonis Comes to Portland” · listen ↗

Podcast items are our short summaries of what was said, credited to who said it; posts and stories link to the original. Opinions and rumors are labelled as such and are not checked facts.