As the Portland Trail Blazers approach the Feb. 5 trade deadline, there are only three players they should consider to be truly untouchable: Deni Avdija, Damian Lillard, and Donovan Clingan. Deni is emerging as an All-Star on one of the best contracts in the association. Dame has a rare no-trade clause. Meanwhile, Clingan is becoming the ideal building block at the center position.
Coming out of UConn, we all knew Clingan was a monster defensively. He dominated the paint both in terms of rebounding and rim protection. At 7-foot-2, 280 pounds, he also had the physical tools to suggest that it would be more of the same interior dominance at the NBA level.