NBA Notes: Blazers, Deni Avdija, Wizards, Alex Sarr, Suns, Changes

Trail Blazers

There are plenty of reasons for optimism when it comes to the Trail Blazers after they signed GM Joe Cronin and coach Chauncey Billups to contract extensions.

“For the last decade, ever since the breakup of the Wesley Matthews-Nicolas Batum duo, Portland has been searching for reliable two-way wings,” wrote Zach Kram of ESPN. “Damian Lillard‘s Blazers teams often faltered in the playoffs because they had to rely on the likes of Al-Farouq Aminu, Maurice Harkless and Allen Crabbe.”

Things are changing in Portland, though. At least, it sure is starting to look that way.

“But now the Trail Blazers have found their forwards of the future in Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara. It took a high price to get Avdija to Portland — Malcolm Brogdon and two first-round picks — but he has been well worth it, averaging 17 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists per game while adding strong defense. Camara looks like a prototypical 3-and-D prospect, and a steal for Portland, which finagled his inclusion from Phoenix in the Lillard/Deandre Ayton/Jrue Holiday blockbuster trade ahead of the 2023-24 season.”

Wizards

The jury is still out on Alex Sarr after the former No. 2 overall pick completed his rookie season. But signs of hope are there.

“Sarr was the Wizards’ first top-five selection since 2013 (Otto Porter Jr.). And while the 19-year-old Sarr looked incredibly raw while taking his first NBA steps — most notably when missing all 15 shot attempts in a Summer League game — he came on much stronger as he gained experience,” Kram wrote.

“After the All-Star break, Sarr averaged 15.6 points while assuming a tremendous offensive burden for a rookie (28% usage rate). The six highest-scoring efforts of Sarr’s season came after the break. On the defensive end, while the 7-foot Sarr allowed opponents to shoot 64% at the rim before the All-Star break, that number dropped to 58% in the second half, according to NBA Advanced Stats.”

Suns

It’s not easy finding a silver lining after this basketball disaster of a Suns season. 

“Finding a silver lining in Phoenix is like searching for a needle in a haystack,” Kram wrote. “Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro looked decent as rookies? Collin Gillespie had a fun run as a fill-in point guard on a two-way deal? They managed to shed Jusuf Nurkic‘s contract?”

Yeah, not easy to do. Now, the Suns are charged with trying to find a new coach for the fourth time in four offseasons. That’s not exactly stability.

Now, there’s talk that Kevin Durant will undoubtedly be traded — yet again. Phoenix is instead reportedly looking to build around Devin Booker.

Basically, this whole situation is a mess and it’s been that way since Mat Ishbia bought the franchise.