The Portland Trail Blazers extended Shaedon Sharpe and Toumani Camara prior to the season. Sharpe's four-year, $90 million extension carried much more risk than Camara's four-year, $82 million extension. Not only was the salary higher, but Camara had already justified his extension with his performance last season. Camara made the All-Defensive Second Team and emerged as a key building block, helping establish Portland's defensive identity. Meanwhile, Sharpe's fit in Portland was murkier.
Sharpe was demoted to a bench role last season due to his lackluster defense. That move catalyzed the Blazers' end-of-season run, which included a top-ten defense.