The Portland Trail Blazers view Toumani Camara as a crucial building block in their rebuild. A Blazers front office executive told Keith Smith of Spotrac that they want to ensure he stays in Portland for the long haul.
"It was so important for him and for us that he got some recognition last year. Toumani is really, really good. We're hoping to be able to work something out to keep in Portland for a long time," the executive said.
Blazers are ready to invest in Toumani Camara long-term
Camara is currently eligible for an extension. He's on an incredibly team-friendly rookie-scale contract, owed $2.2 million this upcoming season with a $2.4 million team option in 2026-27. John Hollinger of The Athletic proposed that Camara could reach a four-year, $67 million extension with the Blazers, wiping out his team option.
"His potential deal would be 'The Nembhard,' almost exactly matching what Indiana did with guard Andrew Nembhard a year ago in a similar situation. For Camara, the deal could wipe out his team option for $2.4 million in 2026-27 and instead start an extension that can go for up to four years and $83 million. 'Four for 83' doesn't sound bad, but the new money here is really 'three for 81,' which seems on the rich side for Camara at this point. His defense is unbelievable, but it's pretty unusual to see a player with his offensive output get paid nearly double the nontaxpayer MLE... If the total is four years and $67 million either way, Portland could make it a flat $16.75 million a season," Hollinger wrote.
It remains to be seen when Camara will get a new deal, but the Blazers have made it clear they view him as a long-term piece to build around, and rightfully so.
Last season, Camara averaged 11.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.5 steals on 46/38/72 shooting splits. But those numbers don't fully encapsulate Camara's impact on winning as a two-way wing. He led the league in drawn charges by a wide margin, which was just one of several reasons he earned a spot on the NBA All-Defensive Second Team.
Camara was the No. 52 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and was an absolute hidden gem as a prospect. His three-point shooting in particular is a pleasant surprise, as Camara shot 37.5 percent from beyond the arc last season. For context, Camara averaged 30.7 percent from deep throughout his four-year college career.
His offensive limitations may prevent Camara from being a second or third-best option on a contender. But he's someone that every team needs, especially if the Blazers want to make a deep playoff run in the Western Conference. Camara is such a versatile defender who can slow down opposing teams' best players regardless of position.
He's the ideal complementary piece on a contender, giving Portland a strong foundation to continue building around.