Deni Avdija made a triumphant return, Toumani Camara enjoyed a career night and the Portland Trail Blazers delivered one of their most electric and impressive offensive performances of the season Monday night at the Moda Center.
But two of the more intriguing developments during the Blazers’ 135-118 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers came from a player who scored zero points off the bench and a rookie who was inactive.
Sidy Cissoko and Caleb Love, a pair of two-way players who have been invaluable rotation pieces during a Blazers season fraught with injuries, are cornering general manager Joe Cronin into some tough decisions. Two-way players are permitted to play a maximum of 50 NBA games in a season. Anything beyond that would require that their contracts be converted into standard deals, meaning they would occupy a place on the 15-man regular roster.
The problem? The Blazers’ regular roster already features 15 players under contract.
Cissoko played in his 49th game Monday, putting him on the doorstep of 50. And Love, who was inactive against the 76ers, has played in 44 games this season.
The next time Cissoko lands on the active roster — and the Blazers play two games this week before the All-Star break — it will create a conundrum for Cronin. What are his choices?
Cronin can waive a player from the regular roster to create a spot, then convert Cissoko — or Love — into a standard contract. In that event, the most likely casualties would be second-year guard Rayan Rupert, who has played sparingly this season, and/or veteran guard Matisse Thybulle, who has not played since October 29 because of injuries.
Another option for Cronin would be, essentially, to do nothing. When Cissoko and Love hit game No. 50, the Blazers could merely move to them to the inactive roster (and they would continue to practice and work out with the team) or assign them to the Rip City Remix of the NBA G League for games and practices. In that scenario, the Blazers would chase a play-in spot without the young players, leaning on their ever-improving health instead.
There’s also a third option. The NBA has reached the time of year when random veterans are cut, sending them to the waiver wire and, ultimately, making them unrestricted free agents. If Cronin identities an unclaimed veteran that he thinks would help the Blazers more than Cissoko or Love — or Rupert or Thybulle — then he waive someone from the regular roster, leave the two-way players on the inactive roster and sign that free agent.
All three options remain on the table, according to a team source, but a decision likely won’t come until after the All-Star break and would not negatively affect the Blazers’ salary and luxury tax situation — the team sits roughly $1.4 million below the tax threshold.
Despite the uncertainty, Cissoko and Love have said all the right things.
“This is not a me problem,” Cissoko said. “It’s all about what’s best for the team. It has been a blessing to play, but I was prepared for this moment. We’ve got a good team, we just (traded for) a good addition. We’ve got healthy players coming back and everybody can’t play, everybody can’t suit up. I’d rather have a healthy team. I’m fine. It’s good.”
If Cissoko is approaching his final game of the season, he’s made quite an impact, bringing a level of passion, fire and energy that cannot be measured in statistics. Cissoko has made 23 starts and is averaging 6.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists, while providing dogged defense and next-level intensity. He might just lead the team in knee burns.
“This boy’s got grit,” Camara said, beaming like a proud uncle.
Love, meanwhile, has been one of the biggest surprises of the season, averaging 11.3 points, 2.7 assists and 2.6 rebounds per game, while ranking fourth on the team in three-pointers (90). His play was vital in January, when he averaged 14.5 points, 3.5 assists and 3.3 rebounds, while making 40 threes — second-most by a rookie in franchise history behind Damian Lillard (42).
But he already has seen his status reduced as Blake Wesley, Scoot Henderson and Avdija have returned from injuries. The rookie guard has landed on the inactive list in two of the last three games, a reality, Love said, he had been preparing for.
“I kind of knew once everybody got healthy that they were going to get their shine,” he 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. I’m going to definitely cheer for those guys when I’m out, and I know they’ll do the same for me.”
After going undrafted following an accomplished college career, Love is viewing his situation as just another hurdle in his NBA journey.
“It’s all building character,” Love said. “It’s all a part of the story. My role hasn’t been easy. I haven’t kind of gotten the accolades or the rewards that I feel like I deserve. But I’m just going to keep chopping wood, keep coming, being professional, putting in work and just staying ready.”
For much of the season, Blazers fans couldn’t help but wonder: Where would we be without Cissoko and Love?
They might soon find out.