Deni Avdija, Wizards agree to four-year contract extension
Forward Deni Avdija agreed to a four-year, $55 million contract extension with the Washington Wizards on Sunday, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. It was arranged just ahead of Monday’s NBA deadline to extend rookie scale contracts. Neither the Wizards nor Avdija hold an option for the contract’s final year, the person familiar with the deal said.
Avdija, 22, is a key member of the Wizards on and off the court, where his humor, passion for the game and earnestness have served as leavening agents in the locker room during losing streaks. As a regular in the rotation since he joined the team as a lottery pick in 2020, he has impressed especially with his defensive effort and composure, and his 6-foot-9, 210-pound frame gives Coach Wes Unseld Jr. extra versatility in his lineups.
Last season, Avdija averaged 9.2 points while shooting 43.7 percent and grabbed 6.4 rebounds in 76 games, 40 of which were starts. He made his preseason debut Wednesday at New York after missing two games with back tightness. He had two points and five rebounds in 15 minutes against the Knicks before settling in to score 18 points and grab seven rebounds in 20 minutes of Friday’s final preseason game at Toronto.
The deal leaves General Manager Will Dawkins and Monumental Basketball President Michael Winger plenty of flexibility should they choose to trade Avdija down the line amid their rebuild. Avdija’s talent, size and durability — he was one of just five NBA players to appear in all 82 games in 2021-22 — would make him an easy fit for many teams. But with this young group in the first year of an organization-wide reset, the Wizards see value in his defensive passion and contributions to team culture.
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Avdija, who became the first Israeli drafted in the top 10 when the Wizards selected him ninth in 2020, has had more than basketball on his mind lately. He played both preseason games with “Stand with Israel” written on his right shoe and recently published a statement about the Israel-Gaza war on Instagram, writing in part: “The haunting images of women, children and elders being taken into Gaza, many meeting a tragic end, remain etched in my memory. ... I’m doing my best to convey the gravity of this situation to my Wizards teammates, my NBA peers and the Washington community at large.”
Kuzma expects to play
Forward Kyle Kuzma said he expects to be available for Washington’s season opener Wednesday at Indiana after he missed the final two preseason games with what Unseld called a calf contusion. Kuzma said he took a knee to the calf after practice last week. During the games Kuzma missed, Avdija started in his place alongside Tyus Jones, Jordan Poole, rookie Bilal Coulibaly and Daniel Gafford.
“I practiced today for the first time since having a little injury, but I feel fine,” Kuzma said Sunday.
The Wizards must trim their roster from 17 players to 15, excluding those on two-way contracts, by 5 p.m. Monday.
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