Deni Avdija should remain the Portland Trail Blazers’ primary offensive option next season despite the expected return of Damian Lillard and the arrival of Ja Morant, according to a U.S. analysis looking ahead to the 2026/27 NBA campaign.
In a Sports Illustrated ranking of Portland’s three leading offensive weapons, Avdija was placed first, ahead of Morant and Lillard.
Deni Avdija
(Photo: Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)
The analysis argued that even with two high-profile, ball-dominant guards joining the rotation, the Israeli forward “should still be the focal point of the team’s offense.”
“Avdija is coming off the best season of his career,” the report said, pointing to averages of 24.2 points and 6.7 assists per game for Portland.
That represented a significant jump from the previous season and helped earn him the first All-Star selection of his career.
The report also noted that Avdija finished as the leading scorer on an NBA playoff team, underscoring what it described as his considerable ceiling.
At just 25, however, the analysis said there remains plenty of room for further improvement.
Ja Morant
(Photo: AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
One key area will be catch-and-shoot 3-pointers. Avdija is expected to get more of those opportunities next season but will need to improve on the 31.8% he shot from beyond the arc last year.
“If Avdija can find the right balance between the role he played last season and the new opportunity he’ll have alongside Lillard and Morant, two ball-dominant guards, it could open the door to another major leap in his career,” the report said.
Morant was ranked second.
The analysis noted that he is coming off prolonged injury issues involving his calf and elbow but is expected to be healthy in time for training camp next month.
Morant, an All-Star in 2022 and 2023, has been limited to 79 games over the past three seasons because of injuries.
“A fresh start in Portland could be exactly what Morant needs to return to the form that made him one of the NBA’s stars,” the report said.
Damian Lillard
(Photo: AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Morant has averaged 22.4 points and 7.4 assists per game over his career and is expected to serve as Portland’s primary playmaker.
His ability to attack the paint could also become an important part of the Blazers’ offensive structure, with the team expected to tailor its system around his strengths.
Lillard was ranked third.
After fully recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, the veteran guard is returning to Portland without the expectation that he must carry the offense every night.
That, the analysis argued, could significantly reduce the pressure on him while still allowing him to play an important role in the Blazers’ push to return to the playoffs.