Every trade rumor is like a stone dropped in a pond, sending ripples outward.
This week, hidden underneath reporting that the Portland Trail Blazers are leaping into the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade market, was news of a second trade target: former All-NBA big man Anthony Davis.
That rumor is a slap to the face of current starting center Donovan Clingan.
Donovan Clingan was not good enough
The idea that the Trail Blazers could be looking to upgrade on Clingan is not shocking, especially not after he was largely ineffective in the team's first-round loss to the San Antonio Spurs. The second-year big man was helpless inside against Victor Wembanyama, and when incumbent head coach Tiago Splitter spaced him out to the 3-point line, he bricked corner three after corner three.
If Portland wants to win right away, with franchise legend Damian Lillard set to return next season and Deni Avdija ascending into stardom, then they reasonably could choose to upgrade on Clingan. We hypothesized just such a move a few days ago. Donovan Clingan is not the answer to win playoff series in the next couple of years.
Anthony Davis could help Portland win now
A healthy Anthony Davis would be exactly what they need.
Note that "healthy" is not safe to assume when it comes to Davis, who has battled injury after injury over the past few seasons. The player mockingly nicknamed "Street Clothes" by Inside the NBA was limited to just 20 games this past year, and has played in more than 56 games just once in the last six years.
When healthy, however, Davis is still dominant. His combination of size, length and speed makes him a menace in the paint, and his anticipation has made him one of the best defenders of the last decade. On offense, he has the skill to attack in a face-up and can excel as a finisher and rebounder playing off of other stars. He is a legitimate two-way force at center or at power forward.
That is the saving grace for Clingan, perhaps, that Davis could play minutes at power forward next to him. That is hardly some great solution, however, as Deni Avdija's best position is at power forward as well. It is without question that trading for Anthony Davis would mean Clingan is being pushed to the side.
Should the Blazers choose Davis over Clingan?
Is trading for a win-now player like Davis the right move? His age (33 years old) and injury history suggest no; his proven ability compared to Clingan's struggles might tend toward yes. If Portland can make the trade without giving up significant assets -- and get off the contract of Jerami Grant in the process -- it becomes more appealing.
To some extent, trading for Davis should be informed about the upside of Clingan, of Scoot Henderson, perhaps even still Shaedon Sharpe. Are these young players future stars? If the Trail Blazers believe that they will be, pushing them to the side to elevate Lillard and trade for Davis will hurt the franchise long-term.
If the team has soured on Clingan's upside, however, and doesn't see Henderson turning into a future star, then leaning into the win-now approach becomes more appealing. Lillard, Jrue Holiday, Toumani Camara, Deni Avdija and Anthony Davis make a formidable starting lineup, and Portland could assemble them without giving up its future.
If they do, however, it will be the ultimate insult to Donovan Clingan. He has been put on notice with these latest rumors -- and may have already played his last game for the franchise.
Add us as a preferred source on Google