"Deni Avdija can set Portland apart from most NBA teams"

In the United States, analysts are trying to predict what the new Portland will look like, admitting that Layke Norrie, who stepped into Tiago Splitter's shoes, will have a difficult job against the backdrop of a crowded backcourt.

According to blogger Reece Kuntz from "Rip City Project," the new coach will have to find a delicate balance between Ja Morant, Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday, Scoot Henderson, and of course Deni Avdija — Portland's best player last season:

"To what extent do the additions made in the offseason complement Avdija's game, and to what extent might they hinder his continued development? This should be one of the central questions for the Blazers as they decide who will handle the ball and initiate the attacks."

Despite having so many top-tier ball handlers, Kuntz is convinced that the Blazers' chance to go far in the playoffs will depend on Avdija becoming an All-NBA level player — more so than on Morant returning to All-Star form. They need to go all the way with the Avdija point-forward experiment, because that is what can ultimately truly set the Blazers apart from most teams in the league.

The blogger explained that "very few teams in the league can replicate the size and physicality advantage that Portland has when Avdija is handling the ball," but it is not impossible that Norrie's unique contract — for only one season — will influence his decision-making:

"Will this insecurity affect his willingness to live with Avdija's turnovers for the sake of the team's future in the long run? Lillard and Holiday can probably lead the team to the playoffs, but will it come at the expense of its young core? The hope is that the two timelines will not collide, and that the answers to the question of what serves the interests of Norrie and the team in the short term will also align with its long-term path."