The Portland Trail Blazers have three starting-level centers (and Duop Reath). They should still strongly consider adding another into the mix.
Donovan Clingan has been as advertised in his rookie season and has shown enough promise as a defensive anchor to make him the long-term starting center. Portland needs to find a complementary big man who can provide them with more lineup flexibility.
At 7-foot-2, 280 pounds, there are many things Clingan does well defensively with his physical tools and ability to anticipate plays. But sometimes your biggest strength is also your biggest weakness as Clingan's size prevents him from effectively guarding out on the perimeter. The Blazers need to find a non-traditional big man with more versatility to use in certain situations.
Blazers still need to find a non-traditional big man
For example, someone like Atlanta's Onyeka Okongwu -- who spells Clint Capela and provides the Hawks with another dimension -- would be an ideal fit. Beyond the defensive versatility, it's also crucial that this type of player can stretch the floor.
The Blazers have made Deni Avdija the focal point of their offense since the All-Star break. It's worked incredibly well and allowed him to have the best stretch of his career. But to continue unlocking the ceilings of players like Avdija, Scoot Henderson, and Shaedon Sharpe -- all of whom like to get downhill and attack the paint -- they need to find another center that can space the floor.
Ben Taylor of Thinking Basketball notes the Blazers' need for a non-traditional big when breaking down Avdija's downhill dominance.
"Portland has played most of the year with a traditional big, and that brings an extra help defender into the paint. On plays where they lift the big man to the outside, you really see Avdija's potential downhill dominance. When they create that five-out spacing, he is extremely difficult to contain in isolation," said Taylor.
The good news is that Clingan has shown promise in this department, shooting 30.8 percent from three as a rookie. His development is going to do wonders for the entire Blazers offense. But Clingan has also only averaged 19 minutes a game this season.
You're probably thinking, you want Portland to have five centers? They do fill that need in the aggregate between Williams/Ayton on defense and Reath on offense, but they are too one-dimensional, which leaves the Blazers vulnerable on the other end.
Additionally, Williams is unfortunately unreliable given his injury history, and Ayton shouldn't be in Portland's long-term plans given his substantial contract. The Blazers' center logjam may thin out quickly as Ayton, Williams, and Reath have deals expiring after 2025-26. They still need one reliable long-term piece to complement Clingan in the frontcourt.