Toumani Camara Is Developing Well as the Blazers’ Hidden Gem

Camara Is Vital To The Portland Core

The Trail Blazers are well into a rebuild and have found some bright talents. Henderson, Sharpe, and Donovan Clingan come to mind as high draft picks who are natural pieces for the rebuild. In addition to drafting well, rebuilding teams must hit on their trades. Portland has done so with trades for Camara and Deni Avdija, who are perfect for the team with their age and skill sets.

Any team would love a superstar talent like Victor Wembanyama to build the team around. However, it is also crucial to get supporting pieces like Camara who could be the X-factor for the team. He is the prototypical modern wing who could defend almost every opponent while contributing on offense. This makes him the Blazers’ hidden gem because opposing teams do not devise their game plan to stop him.

The combination of Camara and Avdija has been a nightmare for the Blazers’ opponents. They play suffocating defense on their matchups and have improved on offense. Deni has become a secondary playmaker alongside his natural transition style. Toumani’s three-point shot has gone from 33.7% in the 2023-24 campaign to over 37% this season.

Toumani Camara Continues Developing And Is Only Getting Better

Toumani’s three-point shooting has been a marked improvement, but he has also improved in every facet of his game. The 6-foot-8 forward has always been intelligent but has built a good rapport with most of his teammates. He never looks out of place, which is phenomenal for a player in his sophomore NBA season.

Camara is a fantastic communicator on the floor, as he knows how to set the defense up. He can suffocate a ball-handler with fantastic on-ball defense. However, he is also a threat off the ball with his presence in the passing lanes and his weak-side blocks. Camara is a complete defensive player, and he will only improve with time as his role grows with the Blazers.

A coach with championship experience in a lockdown defense system in Detroit such as Chauncey Billups sees value in a player like Camara. He will likely command a big contract soon, and Portland will surely find the best way to keep him. Camara is relatively unknown to much of the public, but he will shine, and teams will look at ways to get him.

The Blazers’ Hidden Gem Deserves More Respect

Portland’s lack of success has made them go under the radar around the league. However, a fantastic team is brewing under the radar with players with star potential like Henderson and Sharpe. Add Portland’s two-way star alongside them in Camara, making them a mighty trio. The Blazers have more to give with Avdija and Clingan rounding out the Portland core.

Most people’s eyes will be on either Henderson or Sharpe, but Camara will be the underrated player of the group. He will not have gaudy stats most of the time, but he will always make an impact. Camara is not the flashiest player, but Blazers fans and astute basketball viewers will see his value.

Opposing stars should be wary because they will have to compete against Camara. He is the league’s most underrated defender. Camara has held players like Tyrese Haliburton and LaMelo Ball to some of their worst games. With that kind of player on the roster, the Portland core is in good hands for the future.