RealGM

mighty_duck wrote:Fantastic value on both of these. Well done! Our financial future is looking better.

Not that I'm complaining, but I'm surprised Sharpe didn't bet on himself. He could have gotten much more next summer as a restricted free agent, when a lot of teams are scheduled to have money under the salary cap. And judging by our team comp and preseason, his counting stats are going to look really juicy this year. Efficiency is another story...

As valuable as Camara's 3-and-D skill set is, NBA teams don't tend to pay a premium for it in free agency. In the past three offseasons, just one player who averaged less than Camara's 11.3 PPG has gotten more than $16 million per year primarily on the strength of his perimeter defense: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.Draymond Green also made more while scoring less than Camara, though that owes in part to his playmaking role on offense.

The Blazers can point to Herb Jones of the New Orleans Pelicans, who has never averaged more than 11.0 PPG but was an All-Defensive first team pick in 2023-24, as a favorable comp. Jones signed an extension in July that pays him an average of $22.5 million per season.

The difference is that Jones was heading toward unrestricted free agency at the time. When Jones was in an identical position coming off his rookie contract, he re-signed for $54 million over four years after reaching restricted free agency -- basically identical to the non-taxpayer midlevel exception at the time. An equivalent extension starting next season would pay about $65 million, $17 million less than Camara got.

The hope for Portland certainly is that Camara can grow beyond that 3-and-D role this season. He averaged 13.8 PPG after the All-Star break, more than the similar Jaden McDaniels of the Minnesota Timberwolves -- who did get handsomely paid via rookie extension in 2023 -- has ever averaged. If that happens, the Blazers will be glad they locked in Camara. Still, given that Portland had the team option to fall back on, I think the Blazers took too much of the risk here.

Walton1one wrote:Some additional context on Camara's contract

As valuable as Camara's 3-and-D skill set is, NBA teams don't tend to pay a premium for it in free agency. In the past three offseasons, just one player who averaged less than Camara's 11.3 PPG has gotten more than $16 million per year primarily on the strength of his perimeter defense: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.Draymond Green also made more while scoring less than Camara, though that owes in part to his playmaking role on offense.

The Blazers can point to Herb Jones of the New Orleans Pelicans, who has never averaged more than 11.0 PPG but was an All-Defensive first team pick in 2023-24, as a favorable comp. Jones signed an extension in July that pays him an average of $22.5 million per season.

The difference is that Jones was heading toward unrestricted free agency at the time. When Jones was in an identical position coming off his rookie contract, he re-signed for $54 million over four years after reaching restricted free agency -- basically identical to the non-taxpayer midlevel exception at the time. An equivalent extension starting next season would pay about $65 million, $17 million less than Camara got.

The hope for Portland certainly is that Camara can grow beyond that 3-and-D role this season. He averaged 13.8 PPG after the All-Star break, more than the similar Jaden McDaniels of the Minnesota Timberwolves -- who did get handsomely paid via rookie extension in 2023 -- has ever averaged. If that happens, the Blazers will be glad they locked in Camara. Still, given that Portland had the team option to fall back on, I think the Blazers took too much of the risk here.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45519132/nba-free-agency-2025-reaction-grades-biggest-signings

There is definitely some risk with Camara's deal and a lot of hopium that entering his age 25 season he still has some helium in his game.

zzaj wrote:

Walton1one wrote:Some additional context on Camara's contract

As valuable as Camara's 3-and-D skill set is, NBA teams don't tend to pay a premium for it in free agency. In the past three offseasons, just one player who averaged less than Camara's 11.3 PPG has gotten more than $16 million per year primarily on the strength of his perimeter defense: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.Draymond Green also made more while scoring less than Camara, though that owes in part to his playmaking role on offense.

The Blazers can point to Herb Jones of the New Orleans Pelicans, who has never averaged more than 11.0 PPG but was an All-Defensive first team pick in 2023-24, as a favorable comp. Jones signed an extension in July that pays him an average of $22.5 million per season.

The difference is that Jones was heading toward unrestricted free agency at the time. When Jones was in an identical position coming off his rookie contract, he re-signed for $54 million over four years after reaching restricted free agency -- basically identical to the non-taxpayer midlevel exception at the time. An equivalent extension starting next season would pay about $65 million, $17 million less than Camara got.

The hope for Portland certainly is that Camara can grow beyond that 3-and-D role this season. He averaged 13.8 PPG after the All-Star break, more than the similar Jaden McDaniels of the Minnesota Timberwolves -- who did get handsomely paid via rookie extension in 2023 -- has ever averaged. If that happens, the Blazers will be glad they locked in Camara. Still, given that Portland had the team option to fall back on, I think the Blazers took too much of the risk here.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45519132/nba-free-agency-2025-reaction-grades-biggest-signings

There is definitely some risk with Camara's deal and a lot of hopium that entering his age 25 season he still has some helium in his game.

Looking at past or even current contracts is a bit moot, IMHO, because you're factoring in past markets.

In 2026 the Salary Cap is projected to increase 166M and then in 2027 to 187.7M.

This means in 2 years Camara's salary will be roughly 10.5 percent of the team's salary, if my crappy math is correct. That's great value for 1-8 on any roster. And I think everyone would agree that even if Camara doesn't improve, he'd still at least see 6th man minutes on basically every NBA team...let alone many for which he'd start.

Now I for one am loathe to give Cronin much credit for the Camara and Sharpe signings. This is what you're SUPPOSED to do as a baseline GM. Just because Cronin didn't go full Evan Turner on us, doesn't automatically mean he did a good job--he did a reasonable job. One that was expected of his position. In no way does it make up for his blunders, IMO. It's just neutral.

dckingsfan wrote:

zzaj wrote:

Walton1one wrote:Some additional context on Camara's contract



https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45519132/nba-free-agency-2025-reaction-grades-biggest-signings

There is definitely some risk with Camara's deal and a lot of hopium that entering his age 25 season he still has some helium in his game.

Looking at past or even current contracts is a bit moot, IMHO, because you're factoring in past markets.

In 2026 the Salary Cap is projected to increase 166M and then in 2027 to 187.7M.

This means in 2 years Camara's salary will be roughly 10.5 percent of the team's salary, if my crappy math is correct. That's great value for 1-8 on any roster. And I think everyone would agree that even if Camara doesn't improve, he'd still at least see 6th man minutes on basically every NBA team...let alone many for which he'd start.

Now I for one am loathe to give Cronin much credit for the Camara and Sharpe signings. This is what you're SUPPOSED to do as a baseline GM. Just because Cronin didn't go full Evan Turner on us, doesn't automatically mean he did a good job--he did a reasonable job. One that was expected of his position. In no way does it make up for his blunders, IMO. It's just neutral.

This is where I am at as well. But, it is such a relief that we didn't overpay for Ayton & Simons that it almost seems like a victory.

Reminders of this are the Grant contract that is still on the books and the pathetic stocking of young players on the 2-way contracts (Love) and Murray and Reath being here instead of two more youngsters.

But - happy this turned out well and I am excited for the season - so there is that

zzaj wrote:

dckingsfan wrote:

zzaj wrote:Looking at past or even current contracts is a bit moot, IMHO, because you're factoring in past markets.

In 2026 the Salary Cap is projected to increase 166M and then in 2027 to 187.7M.

This means in 2 years Camara's salary will be roughly 10.5 percent of the team's salary, if my crappy math is correct. That's great value for 1-8 on any roster. And I think everyone would agree that even if Camara doesn't improve, he'd still at least see 6th man minutes on basically every NBA team...let alone many for which he'd start.

Now I for one am loathe to give Cronin much credit for the Camara and Sharpe signings. This is what you're SUPPOSED to do as a baseline GM. Just because Cronin didn't go full Evan Turner on us, doesn't automatically mean he did a good job--he did a reasonable job. One that was expected of his position. In no way does it make up for his blunders, IMO. It's just neutral.

This is where I am at as well. But, it is such a relief that we didn't overpay for Ayton & Simons that it almost seems like a victory.

Reminders of this are the Grant contract that is still on the books and the pathetic stocking of young players on the 2-way contracts (Love) and Murray and Reath being here instead of two more youngsters.

But - happy this turned out well and I am excited for the season - so there is that

Yeah, I tend to agree that Cronin sucks at roster building. The "can't shoot at all but has size and defensive potential" archetype is almost comical at this point. And doubling down on drop-big Centers...and the strange roster construct of Vets that will need to start, but also rostering burgeoning young players that need the type of ambrosia that only being an NBA starter can provide...it's a bit of a working mess.

But at least he got two starters on good deals.

If the Blazers somehow find themselves competitive with Clingan/Deni/Camara/Sharpe/Scoot as the starters, that would have to be one of the cheapest starting 5s in the league.