The Portland Trail Blazers have converted Sidy Cissoko to a standard contract by inking him to a new two-year deal, ESPN's Shams Charania reports. Portland has waived Rayan Rupert to clear a spot on their 15-man roster to make it happen.
As a two-way signing, Cissoko had reached his 50-game limit. Given his impact this season, we wanted the Blazers to make this exact move.
Matisse Thybulle was another player seemingly on thin ice, given his injury proneness and expiring contract. But between Thybulle and Rupert, it's clear who will help their playoff chances more.
Rupert will be missed in Rip City and was someone who didn't get enough time to develop. But he unfortunately had to be the odd man out, as the Blazers' roster timeline has accelerated beyond his own.
Blazers were wise to prioritize Sidy Cissoko over Rayan Rupert
Both Cissoko and Rupert are 21 years old, ironically selected right next to each other as second-round picks in the 2023 NBA Draft. But the former fit Portland's roster much better.
Cissoko quickly earned the trust of acting head coach Tiago Splitter, even starting in 24 games this season as a result of key roster injuries. He's someone who will help Portland's short-term playoff aspirations with a similar, if not better, long-term upside than Rupert.
The Blazers lack of depth has been a major issue this season. Yang Hansen remains a project, while Damian Lillard is out for the entire year. They couldn't afford to keep Rupert around as another project when they needed someone to contribute this season, especially after seeing all the injuries they've had to endure.
Now Portland must decide what to do with Caleb Love
The next question Portland's front office will have to answer: What happens with Caleb Love? There's not as much of a sense of urgency with that decision, as the former Arizona Wildcat still has five games left to play before reaching his 50-game limit.
That decision isn't as clear-cut. We've always preferred Cissoko as his style of play is much easier to scale down once Portland's roster becomes healthier. He's the perfect hustle/energy role player to have at the end of your bench, given his intangibles and ability to impact the game without the ball.
The case for converting Love lies in his shooting and shot creation. Cissoko's floor spacing remains a concern for a Blazers roster that ranks near the bottom of the league in three-point efficiency. But it's not like Rupert was much more reliable in that department, with both hovering around 32% this season.
Ultimately, Cissoko's higher floor and ability to make an immediate impact prevailed. Hopefully, Rupert finds a new landing spot with a team that is better positioned to be patient as they take on a new project.
But in the end, this was the absolutely right decision for Portland to make.