On a night when Deni Avdija returned with authority and Toumani Camara had a career performance, the Portland Trail Blazers lit up the Moda Center with one of their most dynamic offensive showings of the season in a 135-118 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. But while the spotlight shined on the starters, two players on the fringes of the roster - Sidy Cissoko and Caleb Love - quietly stole part of the narrative.
Neither scored a point. One didn’t even suit up. But both are now at the heart of a roster dilemma that could force general manager Joe Cronin into some tough decisions in the coming days.
Cissoko and Love have been two-way standouts in a season defined by injuries and shifting rotations. But there’s a catch: two-way players are only allowed to appear in 50 NBA games per season unless their contracts are converted to standard deals.
Cissoko just played in his 49th game. Love is sitting at 44.
The clock is ticking.
And the Blazers’ regular roster? Already maxed out at 15 players.
That means Cronin has a decision to make - and soon. Portland plays twice more before the All-Star break, and if Cissoko is active for either game, that’s game No.
- After that, the front office has three options.
Option one: waive a current player to make room. The most likely candidates?
Rayan Rupert, the second-year guard who’s seen limited action this season, or Matisse Thybulle, the defensive specialist who hasn’t played since October due to injury. That move would allow Cronin to convert Cissoko or Love to a standard NBA contract and keep them eligible for the rest of the season.
Option two: hit pause. Let Cissoko and Love reach their limit, then move them to the inactive list or assign them to the Rip City Remix in the G League. They’d still practice and stay sharp, but wouldn’t be available on game nights - a tough blow for a team still clawing for a play-in spot, but one that could lean on improving health and veteran depth instead.
Option three: look outside. This time of year, veterans hit the waiver wire as teams reshape their rosters post-trade deadline. If Cronin sees a vet who fits better than any of the current two-way players or end-of-bench options, he could waive someone, leave Cissoko and Love inactive, and bring in new blood.
For now, all three options remain in play. A team source indicated that no decision is expected until after the All-Star break. And from a financial standpoint, the Blazers are in the clear - about $1.4 million below the luxury tax line.
Through it all, both Cissoko and Love have handled the uncertainty like pros.
“This is not a me problem,” Cissoko said. “It’s all about what’s best for the team.”
That kind of maturity has defined Cissoko’s season. He’s brought energy, physicality, and a relentless defensive edge to every minute he’s played.
His stats - 6.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists - don’t tell the whole story. He’s started 23 games and left his mark on nearly all of them with hustle plays, defensive stops, and a fearlessness that’s hard to teach.
“This boy’s got grit,” Camara said after the win, clearly impressed.
Love, meanwhile, has been one of the most pleasant surprises of the year. After going undrafted, he’s carved out a legitimate role, averaging 11.3 points, 2.7 assists and 2.6 rebounds per game. He’s also been a reliable deep threat, knocking down 90 threes - fourth-most on the team - and had a scorching January, where he averaged 14.5 points and hit 40 triples, second-most by a Blazers rookie in a single month behind only Damian Lillard.
But as the roster gets healthier - with Blake Wesley, Scoot Henderson, and Avdija all back in the mix - Love’s minutes have started to shrink. He’s been inactive in two of the last three games, but he’s not losing perspective.
“I kind of knew once everybody got healthy that they were going to get their shine,” Love said. “And it’s their time to shine.
I’m happy that Scoot came back. I’m happy Blake is healthy.
I’m happy Jrue (Holiday) has been getting into his groove.”
That kind of team-first mindset is rare for a rookie, especially one who’s had to scrap for every opportunity.
“It’s all building character,” Love said. “It’s all a part of the story. My role hasn’t been easy… But I’m just going to keep chopping wood, keep coming, being professional, putting in work and just staying ready.”
And that’s what it comes down to. Staying ready.
Because whether Cronin makes a move to keep them active or not, both Cissoko and Love have already proven they belong. They’ve been essential pieces in a season that could’ve easily gone off the rails without them.
The Blazers have two more games before the break. After that, the front office will have to make a call. But one thing’s clear: if these are the final games of the season for Cissoko and Love, they’ve made them count.
And if you’re a Blazers fan, you might be asking yourself: where would this team be without them?
You might be about to find out.