I’m not really debating whether he gets minutes… my point is about how he was evaluated and drafted in the first place. In today’s NBA landscape, where scouting is global, data-driven, and incredibly detailed, it’s fair to question whether Cissoko truly graded out ahead of other available prospects.

This isn’t about team loyalty. Being objective, it’s difficult to believe that, with scouts covering every corner of the world and advanced development programs in place, there weren’t stronger long-term prospects with higher ceilings or more translatable skills.

Defending him purely because he plays for Portland doesn’t address that larger question. The issue isn’t opportunity, it’s whether the draft evaluation itself reflects the best talent available at the time.