Defensive Wizard Toumani Camara Agrees To 4-Year Extension With Portland Trail Blazers

Camara excelled in his second year in Portland. The power forward grew in nearly every facet of the game, but he especially stepped up his defense. The 6’8″ Belgian earned NBA All-Defensive Second Team honors. The Dayton alum averaged 11.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game in just under 33 minutes per game during the 2024-2025 season. He also raised his three-point field goal percentage to 37.5% in his second year. Camara started 78 of the Blazers’ 82 games last season.

Portland’s Rebuild Finally Taking Focus

After four straight losing seasons, is Portland finally poised to break out? The team has been in rebuilding mode for a while, but the team’s future is finally starting to take shape. Camara will be part of a young core that includes Shaedon Sharpe, Scoot Henderson, Deni Avdija, and Donovan Clingan. Add to that seasoned veterans Jrue Holiday, Jerami Grant, and eventually, a returning Damian Lillard, and you have an interesting mixture of young horses, experienced distributors, capable scorers, and strong defenders.

Much will depend on what the team will be able to get out of 35-year-olds Lillard and Holliday. Lillard will not play this season while he recovers from an Achilles injury. Holiday only played in 62 games last season for the Boston Celtics, but he looked good for Portland in the preseason.

Getting Started

Camara wasn’t the only core player to get a new contract on Sunday. The Blazers inked Sharpe to a four-year extension as well. Sharpe may have to carry the load early in the season as Camara (knee soreness) and Avdija (upper back stiffness) deal with minor injuries, and Henderson deals with a hamstring tear that will keep him out of action for 4-8 weeks. Portland is scheduled to tip off the regular season at home on Wednesday, October 22, against the Minnesota Timberwolves.