Portland Path Blazers beginning heart Donovan Clingan, 20, is not anticipated to see a lot enjoying time in his first NBA season. However as soon as he is within the rotation, the 6-foot-4 massive man may emerge as a useful late-round choice.
That is as a result of Clingan was already filling up the stat sheets in his 4 Las Vegas Summer season League video games with Portland. Clingan’s taking pictures numbers weren’t significantly spectacular (he averaged 9.0 factors on .357/.231/.500 taking pictures), however he did put up a powerful 12.3 rebounds and 4.3 blocks in simply 25.4 minutes of play. If he have been comfy with a doomed Path Blazers membership in 2024-25, he may doubtless put up related numbers. In fact, there is a sizable logjam at heart, with veterans Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams III making a mixed $46.4 million in 2024-25. Duop Reath, who had a breakout rookie season in 2023-24 as a backup, proved he deserves some minutes as properly, although his growth is clearly secondary to that of Clingan, who has essentially the most potential.
Fantasy homeowners in deep-tier leagues may actually do rather a lot worse than taking an opportunity on Clingan, however in all honesty, it’s extremely tough to know the way a lot time Clingan will get this yr, at the least to begin the season.
It appears totally attainable that one or each of Ayton and Williams may very well be traded earlier than their contracts expire on the finish of the 2025-26 season. Clingan’s growth timeline apparently aligns properly with that of younger stars Shaedon Sharpe, 21, and Scoot Henderson, 20. Ayton and Williams, in the meantime, are each 26. Reath is 28, however he’s nonetheless on an entry-level contract, so it is smart to maintain him round for some time.
For now, at the least anticipate to see Clingan share the backup heart function with Williams — when the latter is wholesome. The 2023 All-Defensive Second Teamer performed simply six video games for Portland in 2023-24. He averaged 6.8 factors on 65.4% subject purpose taking pictures and 77.8% free throw taking pictures, 6.3 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks per night time. Williams has missed at the least 20 video games in every of his six NBA seasons, and missed at the least 47 regular-season video games in 4 of these seasons. All of which is to say, there is a good likelihood Reap and Clingan will get at the least a number of minutes behind Ayton, even when Williams is not traded this yr.
Extra Blazers: Insider tasks how Portland will deal with trades for Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams
