Portland Trail Blazers 2024 NBA Draft Summary

The Portland Trail Blazers have opted out of the 2024 NBA Draft after a flurry of selections, trades and much debate about their intentions and motives. The Blazers drafted center Donovan Clingan 7th overall, traded their 14th pick for small forward Deni Avdija, then did the doo-si-doo dance with a pair of second-round selections, ending up with neither player But there were three future draft picks and cash on hand.

Wrapping up the proceedings, let’s take a look at the most common questions submitted to the Blazer’s Edge mailbag after the event.

How did the Blazers perform?

Overall, I think he did well. The Blazers were making thrifty purchases through this experience. Looking at the draft class and his selection status, you wouldn’t expect him to produce outstanding results. Instead they got some wearable separates for pretty cheap. For me, that’s good enough. I don’t see a lot of options that would have helped them much.

Was Avdija a good achievement?

Many expressed disappointment in the trade that brought Deni Avdija to Portland. It actually made a lot of sense.

Trading Malcolm Brogdon was no easy task. The Blazers are not going to win next season. He had an extremely expensive contract worth $23 million. The Blazers are at the limit of the luxury tax limit and do not dare to go beyond it. Brogdon stuck out like a sore thumb. If he is not moved now, it is completely guaranteed that he will reach the trade deadline. As good a player as he is, his value to the Blazers was negative.

Moving up with the 14th pick for Avdija seems to be ruffling even more feathers than losing Brogdon. However, it is even easier to understand. The talent pool in the middle of the draft was, at best, speculative. The players available there were either really young, one-dimensional, or both. The Blazers are already loaded with young prospects with flaws in their games. They don’t have to start fresh with the other one, especially if the ceiling isn’t high.

In Avdija, the Blazers got a player with four full years of NBA experience. They like his efficiency, IQ and ability to pass to small forwards. Keep in mind, Portland doesn’t have a developed point guard yet. It helps to field multiple playmakers who can keep the ball moving. Avdija won’t demand shots, but he will alter them. Offensively, at least, it’s a good pick-up.

Two other important factors are important. Avdija has already signed his next contract. Its value is modest – $15.6 million this year – and will actually decline by 2028. Second, Avdija doesn’t need to be a franchise savior to make this move worthwhile. He just has to be better than whichever player the Blazers select at No. 14 overall. He’s clearly the one with the most potential going forward.

In short, given Portland’s situation, there was nothing wrong with this trade. It may not “move the needle,” but it keeps the momentum alive more than drafting a completely unproven, low-upside rookie.

Will Klingon start?

Normally you would expect the seventh overall pick in the draft to move early. I’m not sure the Blazers have got Klingon with that in mind. He was probably the best player available from their draft board. His body and rebounding will give him an edge. Give it time to build.

I don’t think Clingan will start the season in the starting lineup. I don’t think acquiring him means Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams III are any more trade-able than they already are (which is pretty much trade-able). The Blazers could move him, but if that’s the case, it was going to happen anyway.

Klingon is a project that hopefully will someday serve as a useful starter or mainstay. His game doesn’t fit with the modern NBA but his size and defensive willingness will always get him a chance.

What about that second round of content?

There is no big secret in this. Portland likely didn’t fall in love with anyone in the second round. Instead they traded some of the picks from a relatively weak draft for future picks that may be stronger. Getting cash on shore is a nice bonus. The team will value every dollar it receives over the next few seasons. Again, these weren’t world-changing moves, but they made sense given Portland’s priorities.

The overall grade

If you take context into account, I’d give the Blazers a B or B+ for this draft. In short – assessing its overall impact on the future – it is probably insignificant, perhaps a D. factor in terms of what can be done overall and what needs to be done in Portland, though. And you’ll understand that the Blazers performed as well as they could.

What will happen next?

The threat of free agency looms. We’ll talk about what the Blazers are likely to do (or not do) tomorrow.