Bold headline: The Blazers activate Sidy Cissoko to a standard contract while saying goodbye to Rayan Rupert. And this is the part many fans might overlook… the move reshapes Portland’s roster and future plans.
The Portland Trail Blazers announced on Friday that they have upgraded forward Sidy Cissoko from a two-way arrangement to a conventional NBA contract, a deal reported by Shams Charania of ESPN as lasting two years.
To make room for the upgrade, Portland, which already had the maximum number of players on its roster, released guard Rayan Rupert. This maneuver creates the necessary roster space to convert Cissoko’s contract from a two-way deal to a full NBA contract.
Under the terms of Cissoko’s prior two-way agreement, he could only be active for up to 50 NBA games. He hit that limit before the All-Star break, so the Blazers needed to convert him to a standard contract to keep him eligible for the remainder of the season.
Cissoko has contributed 6.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game in 22.3 minutes of action this season. He has been a steady part of Portland’s rotation, starting 24 games as the team has navigated a string of injuries.
Drafted 44th overall by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2023 NBA Draft, Cissoko signed a two-way contract with the Blazers in February 2025.
Rupert, selected 43rd overall by Portland in the 2023 Draft, leaves with career averages of 3.2 points and 1.8 rebounds across 139 NBA games. Changes like these highlight how teams balance development, cap space, and depth during a demanding season.
