RealGM

Posted: **Fri Jul 11, 2025 2:02 pm**

https://sports.yahoo.com/article/blazers-toumani-camara-gets-67-173955988.html

The Portland Trail Blazers got the steal of the 2023 NBA Draft when they took Toumani Camara as the No. 52 overall pick.

It has created a quick problem two years into his NBA career, though: What's he worth?

The Athletic's John Hollinger suggests that the Blazers and Camara should agree to a four-year, $67 million extension.

"His potential deal would be 'The Nembhard,' almost exactly matching what Indiana did with guard Andrew Nembhard a year ago in a similar situation," Hollinger writes. "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."

Posted: **Fri Jul 11, 2025 4:06 pm**

Great if they can get him to sign that.

He is eligible to make $89 mil over 4years, and he has one more year left after this, so POR could decline the TO next year and then sign him to a 4 year deal, which means starting his clock a year early (making approx $22 next year instead of $2) which in essence means a value of $27 million a year starting next year

Or he bets on himself and maybe makes north of $30 million by playing out this year and next year, will be fascinating to see what happens

Posted: **Fri Jul 11, 2025 5:14 pm**

it's been covered quite a bit, but the max seems to be 4-years/89M and that's probably what it would take. if the Blazers can get him cheaper, great. But Cronin doesn't seem to be the kind of GM to squeeze his players with a little hardball

Posted: **Fri Jul 11, 2025 6:03 pm**

Wizenheimer wrote:it's been covered quite a bit, but the max seems to be 4-years/89M and that's probably what it would take. if the Blazers can get him cheaper, great. But Cronin doesn't seem to be the kind of GM to squeeze his players with a little hardball

4 years 89 million is his worth and then some, would be largely considered a bargain around the league & He's the last player id want to offend with a nickel and dime lowball offer. If we can get 4/89 with no player options i take it an run every day. I can only assume that contract would come with bird rights as well?

I say the try for a lower number guy should be Sharpe. Dont go for a max with him, try to get 20-25 mil annually instead of upwards 40. I think we can all agree the two way player is certainly more worth paying full price for

Posted: **Fri Jul 11, 2025 6:06 pm**

PDXKnight wrote:
Wizenheimer wrote:it's been covered quite a bit, but the max seems to be 4-years/89M and that's probably what it would take. if the Blazers can get him cheaper, great. But Cronin doesn't seem to be the kind of GM to squeeze his players with a little hardball

4 years 89 million is his worth and then some, would be largely considered a bargain around the league & He's the last player id want to offend with a nickel and dime lowball offer. I can only assume that contract would come with bird rights as well?

I say the try for a lower number guy should be Sharpe. Dont go for a max with him, try to get 20-25 mil annually instead of upwards 40. I think we can all agree the two way player is certainly more worth paying full price for

logically, 22M/year seems like a fair number. But there is little logic to a lot of the contracts being doled out this summer

Posted: **Fri Jul 11, 2025 6:11 pm**

Wizenheimer wrote:
PDXKnight wrote:
Wizenheimer wrote:it's been covered quite a bit, but the max seems to be 4-years/89M and that's probably what it would take. if the Blazers can get him cheaper, great. But Cronin doesn't seem to be the kind of GM to squeeze his players with a little hardball

4 years 89 million is his worth and then some, would be largely considered a bargain around the league & He's the last player id want to offend with a nickel and dime lowball offer. I can only assume that contract would come with bird rights as well?

I say the try for a lower number guy should be Sharpe. Dont go for a max with him, try to get 20-25 mil annually instead of upwards 40. I think we can all agree the two way player is certainly more worth paying full price for

logically, 22M/year seems like a fair number. But there is little logic to a lot of the contracts being doled out this summer

True but in this case im sure thats what he asks for and that's what he will get. Quality 2 way players are hard to come by and on that contract we could easily recoup good value down the line if things dont work out

Posted: **Fri Jul 11, 2025 7:02 pm**

I do not like what I'm posting. But.

My first though on Toumani, from the business side, is to trade him now. Either for a bucket full of draft picks and a good young player. Or, package him with Grant plus picks for an allstar.

I know this is a bad idea, but a part of me believes selling high now is the right thing to do.

Posted: **Fri Jul 11, 2025 7:14 pm**

oldfishermen wrote:I do not like what I'm posting. But.

My first though on Toumani, from the business side, is to trade him now. Either for a bucket full of draft picks and a good young player. Or, package him with Grant plus picks for an allstar.

I know this is a bad idea, but a part of me believes selling high now is the right thing to do.

I think wed need an established superstar for this to make sense. You need a chance to contend (or at least a glimor of hope at 52+ wins) to keep an all star content especially if they have zero ties or loyalty to the city/team. As it stands assuming toumani is willing to sign id rather have him and whatever else wed have to give up over a 26-32 year old all star who would may bolt in a couple years if they dont ask out before the contract is up even (let alone sign off on the deal in the first place).

If we could add a very young under 25 all star of course its worth considering but theres not many of those let alone teams willing to trade them away.

My opinion on this idea changes if someone pops and becomes a superstar. Once we have a true number 1 there might be a window and a chance to take a risk. But thats the kind of move you make when you know you have a number 1 as opposed to thinking theres a 25 percent chance somebody can get there on the current roster

Posted: **Fri Jul 11, 2025 8:04 pm**

I would explore trades for Deni before trading Toumani, although as a pair I think these are the forwards we have been looking for for years now so happy to keep both.

But Camara is my favorite Blazer by far the last 2 years so I'm a bit biased lol, I just love the way he sets the tone for the team on defense. Battier is probably a better comparison all said and done but when Hurd compared him to Jimmy Butler I was nodding along in agreement, he just has that same winning mentality and I think he will continue to grow how he contributes on offense.

Posted: **Fri Jul 11, 2025 8:48 pm**

DeBlazerRiddem wrote:I would explore trades for Deni before trading Toumani, although as a pair I think these are the forwards we have been looking for for years now so happy to keep both.

But Camara is my favorite Blazer by far the last 2 years so I'm a bit biased lol, I just love the way he sets the tone for the team on defense. Battier is probably a better comparison all said and done but when Hurd compared him to Jimmy Butler I was nodding along in agreement, he just has that same winning mentality and I think he will continue to grow how he contributes on offense.

Agreed on Camara the potential is there to become a force, and I believe wed have more rights and flexibility with him if we can extend him. For 4 years

Would love to keep both but we will see on the deni front, that is a lot less uncertain than I thought given the contract situation. But if he loves it here might be worth the roll of the dice trying to keep him in 2028 or if hes clear hes lukewarm probably try to cash out.

I think if I had to name 5 Id keep without any contract considerations toumani-deni-sharpe-dc-scoot in no particular order moving forward. But of course ignoring money in this league is maniacal and order of operations with that in mind may truly be more like this:
1.toumani/deni
2. Clingan
3. Shaedon
4. Scoot

But it really does get expensive when keeping all of the above unless we can move off from Grant. Perhaps if needed on the Deni front worst case we stretch out jerami's final year to give us 20 mil more to work with. Either way that jrue deal is looking more boneheaded by the minute even if we somehow get to the 6 seed this year. Would have been nice to have the flexibility to extend him in 2027 but now we gave up on that chance

Posted: **Sat Jul 12, 2025 12:47 am**

DeBlazerRiddem wrote:I would explore trades for Deni before trading Toumani, although as a pair I think these are the forwards we have been looking for for years now so happy to keep both.

But Camara is my favorite Blazer by far the last 2 years so I'm a bit biased lol, I just love the way he sets the tone for the team on defense. Battier is probably a better comparison all said and done but when Hurd compared him to Jimmy Butler I was nodding along in agreement, he just has that same winning mentality and I think he will continue to grow how he contributes on offense.

Agreed. Trading Toumani would be crazy imo, unless there's this ridiculous offer (doubtful - as while he may have star impact, he's not a star).

He's an integral part of this team going forwards.

Posted: **Sat Jul 12, 2025 1:08 am**

PDXKnight wrote:
Wizenheimer wrote:
PDXKnight wrote:
4 years 89 million is his worth and then some, would be largely considered a bargain around the league & He's the last player id want to offend with a nickel and dime lowball offer. I can only assume that contract would come with bird rights as well?

I say the try for a lower number guy should be Sharpe. Dont go for a max with him, try to get 20-25 mil annually instead of upwards 40. I think we can all agree the two way player is certainly more worth paying full price for

logically, 22M/year seems like a fair number. But there is little logic to a lot of the contracts being doled out this summer

True but in this case im sure thats what he asks for and that's what he will get. Quality 2 way players are hard to come by and on that contract we could easily recoup good value down the line if things dont work out

Are you referring to Sharpe as a quality 2-way player?

Posted: **Sat Jul 12, 2025 1:42 am**

If he doesn’t take a deal at a reasonable amount this year, then yes maybe you deal him or you wait and see how the year goes (risk getting less value via trade next offseason though), but paying him north of $30mil unless he markedly improves would be foolish IMO

For reference, Herb Jones just signed a 3yr/$68mil deal, paying Camara slightly north of that is ok, but over $30, not smart IMO

Posted: **Sat Jul 12, 2025 3:31 am**

I was stoked for this subject line... than I saw this: "The Athletic's John Hollinger suggests"

Posted: **Sat Jul 12, 2025 3:47 am**

DaVoiceMaster wrote:
PDXKnight wrote:
Wizenheimer wrote:
logically, 22M/year seems like a fair number. But there is little logic to a lot of the contracts being doled out this summer

True but in this case im sure thats what he asks for and that's what he will get. Quality 2 way players are hard to come by and on that contract we could easily recoup good value down the line if things dont work out

Are you referring to Sharpe as a quality 2-way player?

Lol toumani. Sharpe should be a better defender than he is with his size and athleticism

Posted: **Sat Jul 12, 2025 5:54 am**

PDXKnight wrote:
DaVoiceMaster wrote:
PDXKnight wrote:
True but in this case im sure thats what he asks for and that's what he will get. Quality 2 way players are hard to come by and on that contract we could easily recoup good value down the line if things dont work out

Are you referring to Sharpe as a quality 2-way player?

Lol toumani. Sharpe should be a better defender than he is with his size and athleticism

Whew! I totally agree. Sharpe was a better defender his rookie season. He just doesn't seem to try very hard anymore and gives up way too often.

Posted: **Sat Jul 12, 2025 5:33 pm**

keep in mind that Camara has 2 years left on his deal with the last year being the team option. That's the apparent leverage to get Camara to agree to an extension. But IIRC, if the extension doesn't happen this season, then he'll enter the last year of his contract and would become an unrestricted free agent in 2027

Posted: **Sat Jul 12, 2025 8:16 pm**

Wouldn't it be great if the guys loved playing together so much that they did the Friends cast thing and worked their salaries equitably, so all could stay together.

Posted: **Sat Jul 12, 2025 8:49 pm**

DaVoiceMaster wrote:Wouldn't it be great if the guys loved playing together so much that they did the Friends cast thing and worked their salaries equitably, so all could stay together.

Ill be honest even as a blazer fan id want the max I could get knowing full well the fo in Portland would find a way to waste the money anyhow.

On a personal level id switch the state income tax and property to a sales tax but to each their own on that issue. But hypothetically also this would give us a lot more negotiating power with player retention and negotiation with fa's if we could wipe out all or most of the income tax in negotiations. Most here love the Portland metro as do I but I think most can also admit to prospective fa's pdx could be a tough pill to swallow especially if we arent a top 5 contender with some buzz around the team

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Re: Toumani in line for $67M 4-year extension?

Re: Toumani in line for $67M 4-year extension?

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Re: Toumani in line for $67M 4-year extension?