Kris Murray and Sidy Cissoko serve the same purpose on the Portland Trail Blazers. Two high-energy, defensive-minded players who are offensive liabilities due to their inability to effectively space the floor. That's why one must go.
Murray is shooting 25% from beyond the arc this season, which is also his career average so far through three seasons. Meanwhile, Cissoko hovers around the same 25% for his career, but is shooting slightly better this season at 27.4%. Neither is ideal.
With the two role players combining to average 45 minutes a game this season, it's not surprising that Portland ranks second-worst in three-point efficiency (33.5%), ahead of only the Indiana Pacers.
Blazers interim head coach Tiago Splitter doesn't have many other options given how shorthanded they've been lately, with injuries that don't seem to be getting any better. But eventually, something must give.
Kris Murray or Sidy Cissoko? The Blazers must pick one
Murray and Cissoko could both carve out long NBA careers as role players with their defensive versatility and intangibles. But Portland doesn't need both on its roster due to their overlapping strengths and weaknesses.
Both were in the 2023 draft class -- Murray went No. 23 overall to the Blazers, and Cissoko fell to No. 44 overall with the San Antonio Spurs. But one key differentiator is that Murray is already 25, while Cissoko is just 21. The former has shown no shooting improvement since entering the league, while the latter seems to be trending upward.
Murray hasn't panned out as a first-round pick, and the fact that he was projected to be an immediate-impact prospect after three productive seasons at Iowa is concerning for his future outlook. Between the two, Murray is currently the better player. But Cissoko isn't too far behind as is and continues to gain ground as the season progresses. Portland appears to have landed a gem with Cissoko on a two-way contract, and it should force them to reconsider whether it's worth keeping Murray around beyond this season.
With Deni Avdija's ascension, Portland must now determine how each piece of its roster fits alongside its rising star. Specifically, they need to add more shooting to space the floor and utilize more of Avdija's strengths as a playmaker and downhill force. They can also do that by subtraction, starting with getting rid of either Murray or Cissoko.
Keeping both Murray and Cissoko is redundant. The Blazers need to commit to one and move on from the other.