Is Portland Trail Blazers Forward Toumani Camara A Two-Way Player

Just 18 months into his NBA career, Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara has established himself as an above average, near-elite defender. His status is particularly impressive given his deep second-round selection and under-the-radar inclusion in the 2023 Damian Lillard trade.

The 6’7 Belgian burst onto the scene last season, earning a starting role within weeks, thanks to a versatile, defensive arsenal, marked by relentless energy at the point of attack.

I could go on about the 24-year-old’s defensive prowess but today we’re discussing the other side of his game in order to gauge whether he’s entitled to two-way player respect. A status that forces opposing defenses to, at the very least, pay attention to him.

For reference, the Blazers have really only had four genuine two-way wings/forwards over the past decade — Wes Matthews Jr., Nicolas Batum, Jerami Grant and Deni Avdija. Players who wouldn’t look out of place in an All Defensive Team discussion while also being considered an offensive asset, offering a marketable skill or two on that end.

Some Perspective

Gone are the days when competitive NBA teams started defensive-first wings and forwards like Andre Roberson and Tony Allen who offered almost nothing on the other side of the ball.

But while all modern starters can do something on that end, there’s a difference between offensive contributor and offensive asset. We can try measuring this by comparing Camara with current and former defensive-minded Blazers carrying offensive question marks.

For him to be considered an offensive threat, his season averages of 9.6 points 43.4 percent from the field (8.3 attempts) and 35.1 percent from three, need be better than the below.

Matisse Thybulle shares Camara’s high-level defensive ability, highlighted by two All Defensive teams nominations. But given the Australian national representative’s streaky three point shooting, he falls short on offense. In Portland, Thybulle has registered 5.9 points on 41.0 percent from the field (5.2 attempts) and 35.8 percent from three.

Al-Farouq Aminu and Moe Harkless manned the Blazers’ starting forward spots for the second half of the teens decade. The pair were primarily deployed to mask Lillard and CJ McCollum’s defensive deficiencies. Their offensive impact was less black and white.

Aminu could hit the odd three when required but was a liability putting the ball on the floor and was a sorry source of offensive creation. In Portland, Aminu put up 9.5 points on 41.1 percent from the field (8.1 attempts) and 35.3 percent from three.

Harkless might have had the tools to be an effective scorer but rarely put theory into practice. With the Blazers, Harkless averaged 7.7 points on 49.1 percent from the field (6.3 attempts) and 33.0 percent from three.

Evan Turner was an admirable defender who could facilitate but lacked any semblance of accuracy from the field, let alone the perimeter. As a Blazer, Turner registered 8.0 points on 44.3 percent from the field (7.2 attempts) to go with a dismal 27.8 percent from three.

Right now, Camara’s numbers are roughly on par with Aminu, which don’t bode well for his two-way aspirations, but …

Is There More?

Being a threat on offense is more than just counting stats and efficiency. We should also ask:

Can he put the ball on the floor and drive to the rim?

This season Camara is taking the ball to the rim 3.6 times a game, converting on 50.0 percent of the 1.4 attempts he registers on those drives. That’s up on last season’s 2.9 drives, which delivered 45.9 percent on the 1.2 subsequent attempts.

The Belgian’s confidence, athleticism and, for lack of a better word, intensity have helped him convert when charging at the rim. While not perfect, his handle is also tighter than last season, enabling him to cut down on turnovers and improve control.

His handle is also a heck of an improvement on Aminu, Thybulle and Harkless.

What’s he like on the catch and shoot?

Camara has maintained his 33.3 percent from three, which might not look particularly impressive. But the fact that he’s increased his attempts from 2.2 to 3.8 speaks volumes.

The Belgian actually bucks convention, registering better numbers when you combine catch and shoot with off the dribble attempts, currently 35.5 percent on 4.3 attempts. We should also be pleasantly surprised by the fact that his above-the-break 35.3 percent is as efficient as the traditionally more accurate corner three, which sits at 35.8 percent. All are improvements on last season’s 33.1 percent overall three point rate.

The numbers are hardly elite but still good enough to attract at least some attention, pulling defenses out of the paint from either of the forward positions.

Camara’s long-range lefty shots are a clear improvement on Turner.

Can he pass?

While the sophomore should never be called upon to run an offense, he’s managed to almost double his assists on last season from 1.2 to 2.0 a game. Combined with his non-horrible handle, Camara can pass in traffic, distributing out of the post and usually effectively, exemplified by his 1.5 turnovers a game.

Aminu and Harkless weren’t even close when it came to generating offense, rarely topping more than an assist a game.

What We Should Be Looking For

Earlier this season, the Blazers broadcasting team suggested Jimmy Butler as a potential, though unrealistic, ceiling for Camara. Not just in style of play but also for the fact that pair both spent four years at multiple colleges and leading with defense.

While I’m not anticipating six All Star nominations for Camara, I am looking at Butler’s five All Defensive Second team nods as a realistic reference. All current drama aside, Butler built his career as a dogged wing defender before showing the world he could be an elite clutch scorer and leader deep in the NBA Playoffs.

Though shorter than Camara, a better example is Butler’s 2008-09 Marquette teammate and former much loved Blazer Wesley Matthews Jr. Like Butler and Camara, Matthews entered the league as a defender who built his offensive game later. Their games aren’t necessarily identical but their respective levels of intensity are.

I point specifically to Matthews’ 2014-15 campaign (prior to the Achilles tear) where he shone on a Blazers team complete with talent at every position.

In 60 games that season, Matthews averaged 15.9 points on 44.8 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from three, 3.7 boards and 2.3 assists. He averaged 2.7 drives a game, converting 52.4 percent of his 1.1 attempts. He also hit 38.9 percent on his 5.8 catch and shoot attempts.

This is what I want for Camara on the offensive end — obviously without the career-debilitating injury. If the Belgian can get to this kind of production over the next 18 months, he will more than qualify as a two-way player.

As for right now, the jury is out but he’s a lot closer than Harkless, Aminu and Turner did or what Thybulle is likely to do during the remainder of his time in the Pacific Northwest.