Sidy Cissoko went from a two-way flyer to a piece Portland can’t really do without.
That’s the reality after a wild Trail Blazers offseason that left the 22-year-old French wing in a much bigger spotlight than anyone probably expected when he first arrived. Last season, Cissoko earned his way to a standard contract and wound up mattering more than anticipated as Portland dealt with a roster hammered by injuries. Now his importance is baked into the plan.
The Blazers have moved on from Jerami Grant and Kris Murray, and that opens the door for Cissoko to become one of the roster’s few true two-way wings. Murray, especially, no longer fit the same lane as a defense-first piece, while Portland clearly saw enough growth from Cissoko to keep betting on his upside.
The biggest reason for that belief is simple: he’s developing. Cissoko’s three-point shooting jumped from 23.1 to 29.8 percent, a meaningful step for a player whose path to sticking in the league depends on becoming a reliable 3-and-D option. He’s not there yet, but the signs are moving in the right direction.
That matters even more because Portland’s defensive identity has slipped since the Ja Morant deal. The Blazers did add some frontcourt depth with Branden Carlson and Micah Potter, but those signings don’t solve the need for perimeter defense. Cissoko does.
There’s still one roster spot left, and Portland should use it on another two-way wing if it can. Matisse Thybulle is still a possibility if the team is willing to live with the injury concerns, and the Robert Williams III extension with injury protections could serve as a model.
Whatever happens with that final spot, Cissoko is headed for a bigger role in Rip City.
He started as an afterthought on a two-way contract, but he’s changed the conversation fast. That rise has earned him a more permanent place in Portland and given Joe Cronin a trusted depth option to factor into the rest of the roster build.
The hustle, defensive versatility, and intangibles are what made Cissoko a fan favorite. They’re also what make him so valuable now.
He doesn’t need the ball. He doesn’t need plays called for him.
He just makes winning plays.
And with the Blazers carrying a backcourt heavy on offense and a frontcourt stocked with point guards and centers, players like Cissoko are suddenly essential. Portland believes in him, and the way this roster has been built makes that pretty clear.
In Other News...
Another Bucks Misstep Has The Damian Lillard Trade Looking Better
Milwaukees latest roster move is the kind of decision that can ripple far beyond the Bucks locker room, and Portland has a direct reason to keep an eye on it. Gary Trent Jr. landed a four-year deal worth $64 million, a price tag that only adds to the sense that Milwaukee is paying premium money for a player whose recent production does not quite match the contract.
For the Trail Blazers, the bigger issue is what all this means for the future. Portland still has a claim on Milwaukees draft capital from 2028 through 2030 from the Damian Lillard trade, and every questionable Bucks move can make those picks more interesting. With Lillard still on Milwaukees books through the waive-and-stretch and other costly roster decisions piling up, the Bucks are giving Portland reason to watch the long game closely. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Just Made Another Tough Depth Call After Nance Move
The Trail Blazers have added another frontcourt piece, claiming Micah Potter off waivers after his run with Indiana. Potter is a five-year NBA veteran who just put together the best statistical season of his career, giving the Pacers a useful stretch of production with 9.7 points and five rebounds per game while showing enough shooting touch to keep defenses honest.
Portland is betting on that offensive fit, especially for a big who can space the floor and work in pick-and-pop situations. The question, as it has been for Potter in previous stops, is how much value he can provide when opponents start hunting him on the other end and forcing the kind of defensive rotations that test a teams depth in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Blazers Offseason Shakeup Just Put Their Young Core On Notice
Portland spent the offseason remaking its backcourt and, in the process, put several young players on a shorter leash. The reshuffle has left one roster spot still open and raised fresh questions about frontcourt depth after Jerami Grants departure, but it also clarifies where some of the minutes are likely to go as the Blazers lean into a faster, more aggressive style.
Donovan Clingan looks positioned to be one of the early beneficiaries, with more chances for easy buckets and lob finishes in a system built to get him involved. Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe, meanwhile, are the names to watch on the other side of the ledger, since the new lineup and recent additions could squeeze their roles and push Henderson toward a reduced workload that may even send him to the bench. [Read more 🡒]