Jovan Buha of The Athletic recently reported that Toumani Camara's trade value could be as high as two first-round picks.
"I have heard that the Blazers want something like two firsts for Camara, so maybe they view [ Dalton Knecht ] and a first as sufficient, but I think Portland probably says no, to be honest," said Buha.
Buha is a great reporter with tremendous and reliable insight. We're not trying to shoot the messenger, and he also added that Portland would say no. But Dalton Knecht!? What are we doing here?
Taking a low-risk flier on Knecht is one thing since the Trail Blazers desperately need more shooting. But we're saying they maybe view him and a first-round pick -- which immediately diminished in value the second Luka Doncic touched down in Los Angeles -- as a sufficient price for a cornerstone piece?
Unless you’re offering a star, don’t bother calling about Toumani Camara
Camara's trade value should be much higher than just two first-round picks. It should be unreasonably high to the point where no other team wants to engage in trade talks because he's essentially untouchable as one of Portland's true building blocks.
He's the heart and soul of the Trail Blazers team and the main reason they were a top-ten defense in 2025, as evidenced by his recent All-Defensive Second Team selection. Camara is one of the few players on the roster who is already talented enough to be a starting-level player on a contending team as a legitimate 3-and-D option, shooting 37.5 percent from beyond the arc this season. At 25 years old and still on a rookie deal through the 2026-27 season, Camara fits in perfectly with their rebuild as an elite role player with room to grow on the offensive end.
His versatility also allows him to play positions two through four, which, along with Deni Avdija, will be crucial for the Trail Blazers' flexibility as they continue to navigate their rebuild. Those types of players are exactly why Portland has the luxury of taking the best player available at No. 11 (if they keep the pick) or focusing on the best trade package for someone like Anfernee Simons or Deandre Ayton.
If Portland throws that all away by trading Camara, it better be worth it. Like an All-Star-level player. Not Knecht, who failed to crack the Lakers' rotation and hasn't earned JJ Redick's trust despite being one of the more NBA-ready prospects entering the draft as a fifth-year senior.
When it comes to stealing opposing teams' best players, Lakers fans are justifiably delusional after landing Luka Doncic out of thin air. Hopefully, general manager Joe Cronin will realize this isn't even close to a starting point in negotiations for Camara.