After ESPN ranked players 100 though 50 on their top 100 NBA players list, longtime writer and noted Seattleite Kevin Pelton wrote that Portland Trail Blazers second-year center Donovan Clingan should get consideration for the list next year:

As a rookie, Clingan was immediately one of the NBA’s top rim protectors. He swatted 7.5% of opponent 2-point attempts while on the court, second in the league to Victor Wembanyama. Clingan’s offensive game is still a work in progress and he averaged only 19.8 minutes. Portland buying out Deandre Ayton opens up a starting role for Clingan, who averaged double-figure rebounds (10.0 per game) in 37 starts last season. If he averages a double-double and 2-plus blocks, Clingan should sneak into the top 100.

Also making Pelton’s could-become-top-100 list

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