How will priceless Portland Path Blazers rookie Donovan Clingan match into the staff’s rotation for the 2024-25 season?
The 7-foot-2 middle was chosen with the No. 7 choose within the 2024 NBA Draft after back-to-back titles with the College of Connecticut Huskies. He had a strong run in Summer season League, averaging 9.0 factors on .357/.231/.500 taking pictures splits, 12.3 rebounds, 4.3 blocks, 2.0 assists and 0 .8 interceptions per evening over 4 competitions. The defensive prowess Clingan demonstrated in faculty was already on full show in Las Vegas, though he clearly stays considerably uncooked athletically.
So the place does Clingan issue right into a roster with 4 rotation-level facilities?
Sean Highkin of The Rose Backyard Report cautions that it is unclear how a lot Clingan will play firstly of the season. Beginning middle Deandre Ayton, who’s making $34 million this yr, is firmly entrenched in his present position — a minimum of till he’s traded. Perhaps Clingan could possibly be the 5 of the long run, however Ayton is the most important man of the current. The Path Blazers can even doubtless look to spotlight one other 26-year-old veteran middle of their rotation, oft-injured 2022 Second Workforce Defensive Participant Robert Williams III. After the 6-foot-9 veteran solely performed in six video games final yr on account of harm, his commerce worth could have declined considerably. However he has a reasonably cheap contract (he is owed $12.4 million this season and $13.3 million in 2025-26) and will intrigue golf equipment in want of a middle — like, say, the New Orleans Pelicans.
Second-year middle Duop Reath is definitely the oldest of the group, having spent most of his skilled profession abroad earlier than proving his mettle with a 21-61 Portland membership.
Highkin cautions that health might show a problem for the rookie huge man, who performed comparatively couple of minutes (22.5 per) through the a lot shorter faculty season. Higkin notes that, among the many finest main league gamers, Clingan might face some studying curve.
“I’ve a sense the Blazers are conscious of this and are going to make use of most of this yr to adapt his physique to the NBA. I’d be shocked if he performed greater than 15-20 minutes per recreation this season. However he can have alternatives, particularly in preseason, and it will likely be attention-grabbing to see what he appears to be like like,” Highkin famous.
Extra Path Blazers: If the Portland veteran is minimize, will his NBA profession be over as properly?
