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Tim Bontemps, ESPN
NEW YORK — The Washington Wizards traded Deni Avdija to the Portland Trail Blazers for Malcolm Brogdon, the 14th pick in the 2024 NBA draft, a 2029 first-round pick and future second-round picks, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The Wizards will get Portland’s second most favorable first-round pick of the three it controls — its own, plus those of the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks — in the 2029 draft, sources said.
Avdija, the ninth pick in the 2020 NBA draft, is about to begin a four-year, $55 million extension that he signed last fall with the Wizards. He gives Portland a two-way wing player to pair with its trio of young guards — Anfernee Simons, Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe — moving forward, plus whomever the Trail Blazers take with the seventh selection in Wednesday night’s draft.
Avdija, 23, had a breakout year last season, averaging 14.7 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists for Washington while shooting 50.6% overall and 37.6% from 3-point range. He garnered votes for last season’s Most Improved Player award, finishing sixth in the voting.
Brogdon, 31, averaged 15.7 points and 5.5 assists last season for Portland, where he played after being sent to the Blazers by the Boston Celtics as part of the Jrue Holiday trade on the eve of training camp last fall. Brogdon, who was the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year in 2023, is now on his fourth team in four seasons and is on an expiring contract of $22.5 million.
He could be a candidate to be moved again by Washington as it continues its rebuilding process under its front office of Michael Winger and Will Dawkins. Washington has the second pick in Wednesday’s NBA draft, as well.
By making this deal, Portland also saves several million dollars off its luxury tax bill for next season, which the rebuilding Blazers needed to do in order to duck the tax — something they are now within reach of doing.