Blazers' cap crunch clouds Avdija's path to extension
CBS Sports' Sam Quinn says there is a "very good chance" Deni Avdija reaches free agency in 2028, arguing Portland isn't managing its cap to preserve room for an extension. Avdija's current deal is a bargain for the Blazers, but Quinn frames the franchise as adrift and unlikely to prioritize locking him up.
On the Third Apron podcast, Quinn noted Avdija is owed $11.875M in 2027-28, and a maximum veteran extension would only push that to about $16.625M in year one.
He said Portland would need cap space to renegotiate and extend him fairly, something its current roster setup doesn't support. With two years left on his contract, the expectation is Avdija eventually leaves via trade or free agency, with the Clippers, Suns, Rockets and Nuggets floated as potential suitors.
