Deni Avdija's Ankle Injury Throws a Wrench in Portland's Opening Night
Status alert: Deni Avdija (ankle) a game-time decision Wednesday, per coach Nori.
Deni Avdija is officially a game-time decision for Wednesday's season opener against the thanks to a sore right ankle. Portland Trail Blazers coach Micah Nori dropped the update, ensuring that nobody gets to set their opening night expectations in stone just yet.
If you were hoping for a clean look at Portland's bizarre new roster, you might have to wait. Avdija tweaking his ankle before the first real game even tips off is a brutal tease for a fanbase desperate to see how this experiment actually looks on the floor.
In case you missed his massive leap, Avdija is not just a rotation guy anymore. He is coming off a monster breakout campaign where he averaged 26.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 6.9 assists per game. He essentially turned into the point-forward engine that makes this whole operation run.
That engine is desperately needed because the Blazers spent the offseason building a backcourt that sounds like a video game glitch. Pairing Damian Lillard with Ja Morant is the kind of chaotic roster construction that requires a versatile, high-IQ forward to keep the wheels from falling off.
If Avdija cannot go, the immediate ripple effects are massive. Sidy Cissoko is the most likely candidate to slide into the starting lineup, but the real story is the usage vacuum.
Morant and Lillard would immediately absorb all the extra touches they can handle. For anyone staring at the prop market, this is a complete headache. You cannot confidently touch the over on either guard until you know if Avdija's massive offensive share is officially out of the picture.
We will not get a final answer until the Blazers finish shootaround and Nori makes the official call. Until then, keep your expectations flexible and prepare for a heavy dose of Morant if Portland's breakout star stays in his warmup gear.