Wizards entered deep rebuilding territory with Deni Avdija trade

The Washington Wizards traded Deni Avdija to the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday. Malcolm Brogdon will be heading to the capital along with four future draft picks.

Avdija was the Wizards' best wing defender, thriving as a point-of-attack defender this past season. Due to his multifaceted skillset and size, he was also one of Washington's best prospects. By trading Avdija, the Wizards have gotten worse on both sides of the floor. However, they did improve their stockpile of tradeable assets.

Washington may not be done making moves. The Wizards could still trade Kyle Kuzma or Jordan Poole to help them navigate their rebuild. Currently, only Bilal Coulibaly and Alexandre Sarr project as being untouchable on their roster.

Part of being a rebuilding team is being willing to make tough trade decisions. Avdija has never hit the heights many expected from him. He is a genuine starter in the NBA but has yet to become the star his potential promised. Of course, he is moving from one rebuilding team to another. However, the Blazers project to be further along in the re-tooling of their roster.

Nevertheless, the Wizards will be among the worst teams in the NBA this season. They will likely have a strong pick in the 2025 draft, a class headed by Cooper Flagg. Therefore, it makes sense for the Wizards to continue moving deeper into a rebuild. They should embrace the difficulties that are heading their way. Only then will they get the opportunity to draft potential stars and build the franchise into a possible contender.

Losing Avdija is a tough pill for the Wizards to swallow. However, it was a necessary move that should set the team up for future success if it navigates the next year or two correctly.