Toumani Camara played his way into the Portland Trail Blazers starting lineup this year with his offseason play. So far, it's translated to the 2024-25 regular season, as Camara has averaged 9.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.8 steals in 29 minutes per game on efficient 48/53/71 shooting splits.
Even when Shaedon Sharpe returns from his shoulder injury, which is expected to be at some point this month, Camara has played well enough to make a strong case for remaining in the starting lineup. They acquired him in the Deandre Ayton-Jusuf Nurkic trade with the Phoenix Suns, but Camara is proving to be the most important player in the entire deal. At 24 years old and on a highly team-friendly contract for the next three seasons (with a $2.4 million team option in 2026-27), Camara should be considered a long-term, key piece in the Blazers' rebuild.
It's easy to understand the excitement surrounding Camara as the Blazers' next hidden gem on their roster. Portland has been lacking reliable 3-and-D wings for quite some time. He's even drawing comparisons to a six-time All-Star, Jimmy Butler.
Jimmy Butler is the player Toumani Camara should 'strive for'
Blazers broadcaster Lamar Hurd name-dropped Jimmy Butler as the pathway for Camara. Comparing Camara to a six-time All-Star may be setting the bar too high. But to Hurd's credit, he mentioned that Butler was merely "something to strive for."
Hurd said, "I'm not saying Toumani is Jimmy Butler right now. Jimmy Butler is one of a very select few. But when Jimmy Butler came into the league, did you think he would have the kind of career he has now? He's someone they can rely on to take over games at times. So, for Toumani, it's just something to strive for. There is a blueprint in front of him. He has the kind of attitude and work ethic to give himself a chance."
As surprisingly great as Camara is as a two-way wing, he hasn't shown the flashes of offensive potential to suggest that he will ever become on the same level as Butler. Specifically, Camara's decision-making and "feel" as an offensive initiator need significant improvement, which is challenging to teach in the sense that it's something that Butler seems to have innately.
However, that wasn't evident in Butler's first few seasons in the NBA while he was with the Chicago Bulls. And there are striking similarities between Butler and Camara—both were late draft picks (Butler No. 30 and Camara No. 52) and had low usage rates in their first few seasons (Butler 14.7 percent and Camara 13.7 percent) relative to the league average 20 percent.
So far this year, Camara is averaging 8.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.9 steals per game on 45/50/71 shooting splits. In Butler's second season, he averaged 8.6 points, four rebounds, 1.4 assists, and one steal per game on 47/38/80 shooting splits.
Camara said he improved his "confidence" from year one to year two. And the difference is undoubtedly apparent so far in the Blazers' seven games to start the season. It's unlikely Camara will ever ascend to the level of Butler. But for Portland, one of their biggest areas of need has been a 3-and-D wing for multiple seasons, and they finally have found that in Camara.