When the Phoenix Suns dealt Deandre Ayton to Portland as part of the Jusuf Nurkic trade, most eyes were on the big men. Ayton, a former No. 1 overall pick, was the headliner, while Toumani Camara - fresh off being selected 52nd overall - looked like a throw-in.
Fast forward, and it’s clear: Camara wasn’t just a side note. He might’ve been the centerpiece all along.
Ayton didn’t stick in Portland, and Nurkic hasn’t exactly been a long-term fit in Phoenix either. Both centers have since moved on - Ayton now with the Lakers, Nurkic with the Jazz.
But Camara? He’s still in Portland, and he's turning heads as one of the most promising young wings in the league.
What looked like a minor inclusion in a blockbuster deal has turned into a foundational piece for a rebuilding Blazers squad.
Camara’s four-year, $82 million extension speaks volumes. That’s not the kind of money you hand out unless you believe a guy is part of your future - and Portland clearly does.
The best part? He’s already playing up to that contract.
His impact on both ends of the floor has been undeniable, and he’s doing it without needing the ball in his hands.
In today’s NBA, wings who can defend multiple positions and knock down threes are the league’s most coveted role players. The days of undersized, offense-only guards carrying the load are fading fast - especially in the playoffs, where mismatches get hunted and weaknesses get exposed.
Camara fits the modern mold perfectly. He’s long, athletic, and plays with a defensive edge that Portland’s been missing.
And thanks to Phoenix, the Blazers now have one of the better young 3-and-D wings in the game.
This season, Camara’s averaging 12.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.0 steals per game while shooting 42% from the field, 34% from deep, and 71% at the line. The shooting splits are solid, and the defensive numbers are even better.
His playmaking? Still a work in progress.
With Portland missing several backcourt options throughout the year, Camara’s been asked to do more than he’s probably ready for. But that’s not a knock - it’s part of the learning curve.
Long-term, he’s not a primary creator, and he doesn’t need to be. He’s best suited as a fourth or fifth option on a contending team, the kind of player who makes life easier for stars by doing all the little things.
That’s exactly what makes him so valuable. Camara doesn’t need the ball to make an impact.
He defends, rebounds, runs the floor, and knocks down open shots. Those are the kinds of players who help win playoff games.
Ironically, that’s also the exact kind of player the Suns were missing last year when their trio of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal couldn’t quite get over the hump. To their credit, Phoenix has retooled and addressed some of those roster holes this season - and they’re looking better for it.
But it’s hard not to wonder what that team might’ve looked like with a player like Camara in the mix.
Portland, meanwhile, did their homework. They didn’t just stumble into Camara - they targeted him.
The Blazers were adamant about including him in the deal, and now we’re seeing why. For a second-round pick, he’s already outperforming expectations.
And for a rebuilding team looking to build something sustainable, Camara is exactly the kind of player you want in the mix: young, versatile, and built for the modern game.
In the end, trades like these aren’t just about the names on the marquee. Sometimes, it’s the overlooked piece that ends up mattering most. And in this case, Toumani Camara might just be the steal that helps shape Portland’s next era.