ESPN recently released its 2026 NBA Rankings, which saw five Portland Trail Blazers in its top 100. Here were those who made the list, as well as their respective rankings:
- Donovan Clingan, ranked 95th
- Jrue Holiday, 82
- Ja Morant, 77
- Damian Lillard, 69
- Deni Avdija, 27
The fact that Portland could field a starting lineup consisting of top-100 players is a testament to their depth. Blazers fans have seen what Damian Lillard had to work with during his first stint in Portland and know how much better equipped this roster is for postseason success than in years past.
You could also make a case that it's the most talented roster Ja Morant has ever had, even exceeding his Conference Semifinals run with the Memphis Grizzlies.
But what's gotten lost in these rankings is how important Toumani Camara is to making this entire formula work for Portland. You could make a case that he's the second-best player on this roster, given his two-way impact and availability.
Toumani Camara somehow remains grossly underrated
Camara often defends the opposing team's best player. He even set the NBA single-season record for most offensive fouls drawn (106). But perhaps the most underappreciated aspect is that he does so while playing every game. 78 games played in 2024-25, and all 82 this past season.
Admittedly, Camara doesn't have the ceiling of a Morant or Lillard. But what he does have over several players in the top 100 is reliability, availability, and scalability. All the "ilities, " if you will. Camara's floor is higher than anyone else on this roster outside of Avdija, which should put him in the top 100 on that alone.
The two-way wing is the most valuable player archetype in the league. Portland has a reliable 3-and-D weapon who has shot 37 percent from deep the past two seasons and even has an All-Defensive Second Team selection on his resume. Camara is the fourth or fifth piece every contender wants, and when building a roster, I'd much rather have that elite role player than a polarizing star like Morant.
You could make a case for Donovan Clingan being higher given his two-way impact on this roster as well. But with Clingan, there are concerns about his matchup dependency as a drop-coverage big who often gets exploited on the perimeter, particularly against stretch fives. Camara has no flaws on defense, making him Portland's best player on that side of the court.
Outside of Avdija, these other Blazers to crack the top 100 all carry plenty of talent but question marks: Clingan's matchup dependence, Jrue Holiday's age (36) and injury history, Morant's poor fit, and Lillard's return to form.
Camara is the glue guy who can mask several of these flaws at once, thanks to his versatility and ability to play multiple positions. That flexibility gives Camara a case as Portland's second-best player.
At the very least, he belongs inside ESPN's top 100.
