Apr 6, 2025; Portland, Oregon, USA: Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara (33) lays up a shot against San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) during the first half at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-Imagn Images Soobum Im-Imagn Images

Blazers Forward Predicted to Take ‘Big Leap’ By Insider

Originally posted on Portland Trail Blazers on SI
By Alex Kirschenbaum | Last updated Aug 31, 2025 6:00 PM ET

The Portland Trail Blazers represent one of the great question mark teams of the 2025-26 NBA season.

Portland finished 2024-25 on a fairly strong note, going a downright respectable 23-18 after a five-game mid-January losing streak.

The Trail Blazers were powered on defense primarily by the All-Defensive Team efforts of emerging then-second-year combo forward Toumani Camara, plus then-rookie center Donovan Clingan. On the other end of the hardwood, small forward Deni Avdija firmly established himself as the team's top offensive option.

A persistent triple-double threat with impressive size and length, Avdija looks to have legitimate All-Star upside.

But Camara, already a decent 3-point shooter, has a chance to become a special defensive player with perhaps some untapped potential as a scorer.

The Athletic's Zach Harper recently ranked Camara as the No. 22-best wing heading into the season, sandwiched between rising Sacramento Kings young gun Keegan Murray (brother of Trail Blazers forward Kris) and a pair of aging former All-Stars, Miami Heat forward Andrew Wiggins and Washington Wizards swingman Khris Middleton.

“Off the rip, I think Murray, Camara and [New Orleans Pelicans All-Defensive forward Herbert] Jones could take big leaps,” Harper wrote.

Harper listed Jones as the No. 26-best wing heading into the new NBA year.

Camara, who finished ninth in Defensive Player of the Year voting last year, exhibited some growth once he embraced a full-time starting role in Portland last year. The 6-foot-8 Dayton product averaged 11.3 points on .458/.375/.722 shooting splits, 5.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.6 rejections in 78 healthy games (all starts).

How Good Can Camara Get?

The 25-year-old's upside on offense could ultimately determine his overall ceiling.

Is he another Bruce Bowen — a great defensive wing who's essentially a release valve from the corners for Portland's better scorers?

Or can Camara flesh out his handle a bit, and tap into the kind of game that made defense-first wings like Jimmy Butler, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George perpetual All-NBA honorees and clear first ballot Hall of Famers?

It may be unfair to ascribe that kind of ceiling to a player rapidly approaching NBA middle age, but one wonders if Camara can at least build out his offensive skillset so that he's more of a versatile compliment to Avdija.