The 2024 NBA free agency period has been a whirlwind of activity. Teams across the league scrambled to bolster their rosters for the upcoming season. The Portland Trail Blazers have not been particularly proactive, but they did still make a couple of key signings to elevate their chances of making some noise. With a mix of strategic acquisitions and savvy negotiations, the Blazers' front office has been working tirelessly to assemble a team capable of competing at the highest level. As the dust settles, it's time to evaluate each of these moves and assign grades based on their potential impact on the team.
The Blazers' 2024 Offseason So Far
The Trail Blazers have bolstered their young core by drafting Donovan Clingan and acquiring Deni Avdija via trade. Clingan is a promising addition to the Blazers’ big-man rotation. He should make an immediate defensive impact. Avdija, who quietly had a breakout season with the Wizards, brings the Blazers a much-needed young wing. At just 23, he offers tremendous upside as an all-around forward with versatile defense and solid playmaking skills. With these additions, the Blazers have strengthened their solid young core and are in a promising position. Additionally, the team is considering trading Jerami Grant and/or Anfernee Simons. This could further enhance their future prospects.
The Blazers can still make significant moves this summer, of course. They have several veterans on the roster potentially attracting trade interest. For now, Portland should focus on developing the young players on their roster, doing whatever it takes to improve them. Whether that means making more trades or ramping up workouts, the Blazers should be more proactive. Given their current setup, individual player improvement should be the primary focus.
Here we will give out our grades for all the player signings that the Portland Blazers had during the 2024 NBA free agency period.
Trading for Deni Avdija
The Washington Wizards agreed to trade forward Deni Avdija to the Blazers in exchange for guard Malcolm Brogdon, the No. 14 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, a 2029 first-round pick, and two future second-round picks.
Avdija is coming off a career-best season where he averaged 14.7 points and 7.2 rebounds while shooting 37.4 percent from three-point range. His marked improvement was a rare bright spot for the struggling Wizards. This earned him a sixth-place finish in the Kia Most Improved Player voting.
Last October, Avdija signed a four-year, $55 million contract extension with the Wizards. They supposedly secured him through the 2027-28 season.
Portland strategically used some of its surplus draft picks to acquire the 23-year-old Avdija. This is a key move in their post-Damian Lillard rebuild. The Blazers, who ended the 2023-24 season with a 21-61 record and hold the seventh overall pick in the upcoming draft, clearly needed an upgrade on the wing. Avdija is known for his solid defense, rebounding, and passing. He fits that bill and also demonstrated a reliable three-point shot last season.
By securing Avdija, the Blazers are banking on his potential to fill a critical position. His affordable long-term contract, combined with his immediate contributions, makes this trade a smart move. Although trading a player of Brogdon's caliber and multiple picks is a high price, Avdija's potential makes it a worthwhile investment for Portland. If he continues to progress as he did last season, the Blazers may have found their wing of the future.
Grade: A
Signing Devonte' Graham
The Blazers signed guard Devonte' Graham. Last season, Graham appeared in 23 games with San Antonio. He averaged 5.0 points, 1.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 0.4 steals in 13.6 minutes per game. Over his six-season career with San Antonio, New Orleans, and Charlotte, he has recorded career averages of 11.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 0.8 steals in 24.9 minutes per game. Graham is one of only eight players in NBA history to have amassed at least 1,000 assists and 700 three-pointers in their first 300 career games.
This signing, on its own, might seem puzzling. However, it appears likely that Portland general manager Joe Cronin is planning to offload one or more of the team's current guards. Anfernee Simons, already on his second contract, is the most likely candidate. Despite his scoring talent, Simons has plateaued and remains a poor defender. This makes his future role on a competitive team likely as a sixth man.
Graham, a reliable energy scorer, provides solid value off the bench. This is especially true at a lower cost than Simons. His willingness to accept a bench role will be crucial as the Blazers develop young lottery picks Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson.
Grade: B
Looking Ahead
Overall, the Blazers’ free agency moves were a step in the right direction. That said, but they fall short of being a home run. Acquiring Avdija was a shrewd move, but questions remain about the team’s overall direction and whether they have done enough to compete in a loaded Western Conference. As the season unfolds, the true impact of these moves will become clearer.
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