Trail Blazers Strike Gold With New Contract Extensions

Moving forward, Sharpe will earn around $22.5 million per year. For Portland to get a player with his potential to agree to such a team-friendly deal is huge. For reference, Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray recently secured a very rich five-year, $140 million contract extension (h/t Charania).

Camara is also another bargain deal for the Blazers, as he’ll make around $20.5 million a year. The 2024-25 All-Defensive selection is one of the best defenders in the league. In fact, he’s genuinely elite at that end. Portland has now rewarded the 25-year-old’s growth with a new long-term contract that many players can only dream of. Considering Camara is entering his third season as a late second-round pick, this is fantastic for the Belgian.

Blazers’ Future Continues To Shine Bright

Sharpe and Camara are now officially part of Portland’s long-term future with their new Blazers contract extensions. 24-year-old Deni Avdija is part of that project, as he still has three years left in his descending contract.

21-year-old Donovan Clingan is already the team’s franchise center despite being only in his second year. One of the NBA’s most promising rim protectors, many project him to be similar to Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert. That’s quite an ambitious comparison, as Gobert is a four-time Defensive Player of the Year, but Clingan has all the tools to reach those great heights.

21-year-old point guard Scoot Henderson is a question mark for some because he has struggled in his first two years. Yet, he’s shown genuine signs of improvement, so he will probably be in the long-term project. Considering Lillard and Jrue Holiday are older players, they can serve as Scoot’s mentors.

Cronin and Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups have been with the team for a while and look to be in-sync. As the two biggest non-player figureheads, their contract extensions in the summer also mean they are part of the project.

The Trail Blazers Can Focus on the 2025-26 Season

If both Sharpe and Camara had not signed their extensions prior to the 2025-26 season, they might have been the source of anxiety-causing storylines. Now, Blazers fans can rest easy because they won’t have to worry about two building blocks.

With Sharpe possessing All-Star potential and Camara already an all-league defender, Portland has a strong foundation. Combine that with Clingan and Avdija, the team’s young core is rock solid. Surrounding them is a superb mix of veterans and leaders, particularly Holiday and Lillard.

Ultimately, the 2025-26 season should be an exciting one for the Blazers, who will look to compete for a spot in the 2026 NBA Playoffs. For the first time since Lillard requested a trade out of Portland, expectations are high for the franchise, even in the ultra-competitive Western Conference.