The Portland Trail Blazers entered a weak 2024 draft class and somehow came away with a key building block in Donovan Clingan. His physical tools allowed Clingan's defensive impact to immediately translate to the next level, providing Portland with a defensive anchor due to his elite rebounding and rim protection. In fact, he already has a case as a top-five rim protector in the league in just his second season.
That immediate impact on the defensive end gave Clingan a high floor, making him arguably the safest prospect in an uncertain class. But what goes overlooked in Clingan's career trajectory is that his ceiling is much higher than is often given credit for.
Portland has a future top-10 center on its hands
The Blazers could legitimately have a top-10 center in the league on their hands. He's already shown tremendous progress in year 2, with his conditioning and three-point shot improving as he takes on an increased role following Deandre Ayton's buyout. Those factors perfectly aligned, resulting in a breakout campaign in which he averaged 12.1 points, 11.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.7 blocks in 27.2 minutes per game.
There's much talk about his improved three-point shot, which the Blazers' front office has always believed in, despite little to no evidence that it would translate during his time at UConn. But what goes most overlooked in Clingan's game is his basketball IQ.
Besides his massive frame, part of what makes Clingan such an elite defender is his ability to anticipate plays. His drop coverage provides help defense, serving as the anchor and key piece in establishing the Blazers' defensive identity. That's also translated to the offensive end, where he's an underrated passer thanks to that ability to see things before they happen. Clingan is quietly becoming the ideal big man for the modern-day NBA. Someone who can anchor the middle on defense but provide valuable floor spacing and, at times, an offensive hub on offense.
The next step in his development is to become better equipped to guard on the perimeter, as there are certain matchups in which he's played off the court. While that will never be a strength in Clingan's game, he could at least develop enough of an offensive post game to make the tradeoff worthwhile, punishing the matchup on the other end.
But for a 22-year-old center, Portland has to be absolutely thrilled with Clingan's development so far in the NBA. There are only a handful of centers whose futures look more promising, and that list is getting shorter each season. Clingan's rapid development has raised his ceiling beyond what most expected.
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