After trading away Malcolm Brogdon and drafting Donovan Clingan, the Portland Trail Blazers quickly went from resolving their crowded backcourt to having a new logjam at the center position. Not only did they invest a top-ten pick into a center, but Robert Williams III was also back into the picture after playing just six games last season due to knee surgery.
However, as the season wore on, the Blazers' center rotation dwindled. Injuries plagued both Williams and Deandre Ayton, limiting them to 20 and 40 games, respectively. Meanwhile, Duop Reath experienced a sophomore slump and was generally unreliable, with Chauncey Billups even electing to play Jabari Walker and Deni Avdija at the five over Reath for stretches.
Clingan was the only consistent big man and had a productive rookie year, averaging 6.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.6 blocks on 54/29/60 shooting splits. In the absence of Ayton and Williams, he strengthened his case for an All-Rookie Team selection and, more importantly, solidified himself as the Blazers' long-term starting center.
Blazers’ center logjam is a more pressing problem than they think
His elite per-36 numbers suggested that Clingan deserved an increased role despite conditioning concerns. Once he finally got that, he made the most of his opportunity. In 37 games as a starter, his numbers increased to 7.9 points, 10.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 2.1 blocks.
Considering age, contract value, and overall impact on winning, it's clear the Blazers must move on from Ayton to clear the way for Clingan's long-term role. However, there's a possibility that it won't happen by next season.
Sean Highkin of Rose Garden Report was asked in a recent mailbag which of the Blazers' centers would be traded this summer. He responded, "Maybe none of them, as wild as that sounds."
As for the reasoning behind why Portland may not move Ayton, Highkin wrote, "Deandre Ayton is in the last year of his contract making $35.5 million. I'm not sure how much demand there will be for him in the trade market outside of being a big expiring contract. Clingan will be the Blazers' long-term center, but I don't think they view keeping Ayton around in the short term as a negative."
That last sentence is the issue -- the Blazers should feel a greater sense of urgency to move their veterans. By keeping players like Ayton around, they have sacrificed development and blurred the lines between a rebuilding and a playoff-contending team, which often results in NBA purgatory.
As Highkin notes, Ayton may not have a market because his play doesn't justify his $35.6 million salary next season. However, the good news is that teams will have significantly more cap and roster flexibility in the offseason to take on a contract of that size. They also likely won't be as reluctant to do so now that it's an expiring deal.
Even if the return is next to nothing, trading Ayton this summer is worth it as long as the Blazers avoid taking back long-term contracts of players who don't fit their timeline.