The Washington Wizards did not need another reminder of the most controversial trade of the Michael Winger-Will Dawkins era, but that reminder arrived a week ago, anyway.The 2025-26 All-NBA Team, announced last Sunday, nearly included forward Deni Avdija following his breakout season for the Portland Trail Blazers. Avdija received the 16th-highest point total in the voter balloting, trailing Oklahoma City Thunder center/forward Chet Holmgren for the final spot on the All-NBA Third Team.On draft night two years ago, the Wizards agreed to trade Avdija to the Trail Blazers for a 2024 first-round pick (which was used to select Bub Carrington), a 2029 first-round pick, second-round picks in 2028 and 2030 and veteran guard Malcolm Brogdon.A deal that seemed reasonable at the time, primarily because of the two incoming first-round picks, now looks like a significant loss for the Wizards — but only if it is evaluated solely on the players’ on-court performance during the last two seasons.Avdija’s potential as a versatile defender was evident during his four seasons in Washington, but he often suffered from a lack of confidence, shot erratically from long range and was confined within a narrowly defined role.In Portland, however, he has seized a larger opportunity and honed the skills he flashed with the Wizards: ballhandling, court vision and a knack for drawing shooting fouls. He earned his first career All-Star nod this season and led Portland to a first-round playoff appearance as he averaged 24.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game.Comparing Avdija at this stage of his career to Carrington at this stage of his career is an unfair comparison. Carrington is much earlier in his development arc than Avdija is.Carrington’s positives include his durability and his shooting. He has played in all 164 of the Wizards’ regular-season games during his two seasons, and this season, he supplemented his strong midrange shooting by making 40.8 percent of his 3-point tries. He still has a long way to go in other areas, however, especially defense and finishing at the rim. So far, he appears more comfortable on offense playing off the ball than as a point guard. Still, he won’t turn 21 years old until July, and it would be much too early to write him off.