On Camara:Camara is in a different spot. He’s eligible to sign what we call the Dinwiddie Extension, which allows a team to extend a player on a salary that starts at up to 140% of the Average Player Salary. For next season, that projects to work out to a four-year, $89.3 million contract.
That is $22.3mil/year on average
Camara could delay signing a new deal until the summer of 2026 instead. If that’s the case, expect Portland to decline their team option for 2026-27 to make Camara a restricted free agent. That way, the Blazers can control the process.
I would imagine that Camara might turn down a 4yr/$89.3 deal and bet on himself, which means we should watch to see if POR declines the team option for 26/27, making him a RFA and giving them the opportunity to match
On Avdija (this one is potentially more problematic):The CBA allows teams under the salary cap (the salary cap, not the tax threshold) to renegotiate contracts to pay players more (never less) salary, but only to the extent the team is under the salary cap.
So if the Blazers could get far enough under the salary cap they could renegotiate Deni's contract in October 2026 to pay him more in 2026-27 (and subsequently 2027-28), and a 140% (maximum) extension starting in 2028-29 could be signed at the same time (October 2026).
In 26/27 Deni is due to make $13.125mil. If POR got far enough under the cap, let's say $17mil, they could then sign him to:
$30mil in 26/27
$32.4mil in 27/28 (max 8% raise)
THEN sign a new max extension starting at $45.36mil
In order to make that happen, POR would need to be a minimum of $17mil under the salary cap next offseason
Salary cap in 26/27 is: $170 millionPOR will have the following in obligated salaries in 26/27 offseason:
Grant @ $34.2
Avdija @ $13.1
Scoot @ $13.5 (team option)
DC @ $7.5 (team option)
Murray @ $5.3 (team option)
Toumani @ $2.4
#11 pick @ $4.7
That is $81-82 million
Sharpe is a RFA with a cap hold of $25.2mil
Reath is a RFA with a cap hold of $3mil
Rupert is a RFA with a cap hold of $3mil
Cissoko is a RFA with a cap hold of $2.3mil
TOTAL cap holds: $33.5mil
That is approximately $115.5mil in cap\holds - That leaves POR with $54.5mil in space under the salary cap, more than enough to sign Camara & restructure Deni to a deal starting at $30mil or so.
OR POR declines the 4th year on Camara and he becomes a RFA as well in 26/27 but, he would only have a cap hold of $3mil and POR rights to match any deal on him
They could also save additional space by releasing RFA rights on Reath\Rupert\Cissoko ($8.3) and declining Murray's team option ($5.3mil), so another $13-14mil if they needed it
Of course, this means letting some\most of Ayton\Simons\Williams & Thybulle walk for nothing. I imagine they have space to bring some of them back, but if they pay Simons\Ayton $30-35mil for example, that starts to cut things close
So, $82mil +$30.5 in cap holds (hedging they keep Rupert\Cissoko and let Murray walk or vice versa) = $112.5
They renegotiate Deni's last 2 years on his deal starting at $30/then $32.4, then simultaneously sign him to an extension starting at $40-45mil. That is an additional $17mil in cap space they need, so now they are at $129.5
That is $40.5mil under ($76.5 under the tax/$206), more than enough to resign\keep (1 or both) of Simons\Ayton however, signing both at $30-35mil would start to make things tight to stay under the luxury tax and field a full roster and then 27/28 could get real ugly fast when the bill stars to come due:
Grant $36.4
Avdija $32.4
Scoot $40.8 cap hold
DC $9.5
Sharpe $35?
#11 $5
Camara $30?
That is $149mil + $41 cap hold on Scoot, so $190
The projections for salary cap are $187, Luxury tax around $227, 1st apron $237
Add $65-$70 for Simons\Ayton and they are way over the 1st apron with only 9? players
