Rebuilding teams should typically hold onto former first-round picks early in their careers, but the Portland Trail Blazers should make an exception with Kris Murray.
After spending three seasons at Iowa, Murray was viewed as one of the more NBA-ready prospects in the 2023 NBA Draft. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case as the Blazers' No. 23 overall pick didn't pan out at the next level.
Most concerningly, Murray has shown little to no progress on the offensive end. He's a major liability as someone who shrinks the floor, hovering around 25% from beyond the arc for three consecutive seasons. That's not an ideal fit for any team, especially on a Blazers roster that has now ranked in the bottom five in three-point efficiency every season since Murray has entered the league.
Murray could carve out an NBA role and prolong his career based on his defensive impact alone. The league seemingly values defensive versatility now more than ever, particularly at the wing position. But given his questionable fit, it would be in the Blazers' best interest for Murray to continue his career elsewhere.
Besides, the Blazers already have their versatile wing defender: Sidy Cissoko.
Blazers should invest in Sidy Cissoko as a Kris Murray replacement
The one silver lining to Portland's injury crisis this season is that unexpected players have stepped up in increased roles. There may be no better example of this than "Rip Sidy." He's having a career year, averaging 6.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 20.7 minutes per game, even starting in 15 of those!
From an overlooked two-way signing to an occasional starter and fan favorite, Cissoko has found a home in Portland. He offers everything Murray provides in terms of defense and intangibles, but separates himself with upside and a more intriguing offensive skillset.
Cissoko is only 21 years old. That alone gives him a strong case to keep him over the 25-year-old Murray, as there's much more untapped potential compared to a player who has seemingly already plateaued. He's actually shown improvement since entering the league, as evidenced by his 33.6% three point shooting this season on a career high of 3.2 attempts per game.
Granted, that's still an area for Cissoko to improve. But these are simply weaknesses worth comparing to distinguish between the two players. Their overlapping player archetypes make keeping both redundant for Portland's roster. And while Portland will have to figure out the logistics of clearing space on the 15-man roster to convert Cissoko's two-way contract to a standard one, it's absolutely worthwhile. He's become a key piece of the Blazers bench this season, and most importantly, his best basketball has yet to come. We're not certain that's the case with Murray.
It's clear which career trajectory Portland should continue to invest in.