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Micah Nori Had A Message For Deni Avdija Amid Trail Blazers' Star Additions
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- Micah Nori Had A Message For Deni Avdija Amid Trail Blazers' Star Additions
(Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images)
Micah Nori had an important message for Deni Avdija when the Portland Trail Blazers began building a team around two All-Star guards: his role might look different, but that didn't mean his success would disappear.
Adding two high-profile guards to the mix was always going to create questions about how Portland's offense would function. With more mouths to feed and fewer touches potentially available, Avdija could have been concerned about losing some of the opportunities that helped establish him as one of the team's most important players.
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Nori, however, made sure the All-Star forward understood that the changes could actually benefit him. As reported by The Athletic's Jason Quick , Nori explained how he envisioned Avdija fitting into the new-look offense,"I showed him how it would work. And I explained to him: I promise you are going to be more efficient. You may not have as many touches early on, but I'll get you in positions where it's advantageous to you."
That message is an important one for Portland, especially with Avdija coming off a season that elevated his standing around the league. He has proven he can be a primary offensive option, create opportunities for himself and others, and carry a significant workload. The Blazers don't want to take those strengths away. They want to make them even more effective.
Playing alongside two All-Star-caliber guards should give Avdija more opportunities to attack defenses that are already occupied by other threats. Instead of having to initiate so much of the offense himself, he can take advantage of mismatches, attack closeouts and get downhill against defenders who aren't necessarily focused on stopping him.
There is also a difference between having fewer touches and having fewer opportunities to make an impact. Avdija doesn't necessarily need the ball in his hands on every possession to be one of Portland's most valuable players. His ability to move without the ball, finish around the rim and create offense in transition gives Nori plenty of ways to keep him involved.
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Getting everyone comfortable with those adjustments will take time, particularly when integrating multiple high-level offensive players. Still, Nori's confidence in the fit should be encouraging for Avdija and Blazers fans.
Portland didn't bring in more star power to diminish what Avdija brings to the table. The goal is to build an offense where he doesn't have to do everything himself. If Nori can deliver on that promise, Avdija could become an even more dangerous player, even if his individual workload looks a little different.
