The Portland Trail Blazers are expected to be near the bottom of the league standings next season. The Trail Blazers have had a rough few seasons, but at least they have some young, hungry players ready to make their mark on the league.
For the second straight season, they had top-10 picks, and in June’s draft, the Trail Blazers selected UConn center Donovan Clingan.
Clingan is about to begin his rookie season, and as we sit a month before training camp, NBA 2K ratings are slowly coming out. NBA 2K25 has released player and team ratings for the Trail Blazers, and Clingan has a rating of 73.
The Trail Blazers have an overall rating of 81, which places them ahead of the Utah Jazz, Toronto Raptors, Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls, Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets.
NBA 2K25 will release on all platforms on Friday, September 6.
The Trail Blazers selected Clingan with the seventh overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft. The Connecticut native is coming off a stellar college career, during which he helped propel UConn to back-to-back NCAA championships in 2023 and 2024.
He began his freshman season as a backup and finished the season being named to the Big East Conference All-Freshman Team. In the championship game, Clingan recorded four points with three rebounds, blocks and two steals in the 2023 National Championship game against San Diego State University.
His sophomore season was even better. He was named an AP Honorable Mention All-American and won another championship to cap his college career. Clingan averaged 13.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 2.5 blocks in 22.5 minutes per game.
Clingan declared for the 2024 NBA Draft in April and was among the top players to go in the draft. The 20-year-old will be a key piece for the Trail Blazers moving forward, but it won’t be an easy start.
The Trail Blazers are already at a disadvantage given their geographic location. Plus, they have a tough schedule to start the season.
A 73 to start the season isn’t bad for the young center. Clingan is a 7-foot-4 center who plays in transition and dominates the game with his size, strength, overall skills and mobility.
If all goes well, Clingan could become the driving force behind the Trail Balzers starting next season.
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