Donovan Clingan's improved three-point shot was a double-edged sword for Portland this season. Overall, they benefited from his newfound ability to space the floor, but with it came frustrating stretches in which Clingan wasn't fully utilizing his size advantage.
At 7-foot-2, 280 pounds, Clingan is a massive human being and one of the largest starting centers in the league. The next step in his development is to establish a post game, where he can become more of a three-level scorer. His offensive production is overly reliant on being set up by teammates or even putbacks as one of the league's premier offensive rebounders.
Blazers need Donovan Clingan to be less matchup dependent
Teams often play Clingan off the court because they can exploit his limited mobility on the perimeter. Stretch fives like Atlanta's Onyeka Okongwu or mobile bigs like Cleveland's Jarrett Allen give him trouble, and there's currently no tradeoff for Portland where Clingan can make it up on the other end. Now that his conditioning level and three-point shot have improved, developing a more reliable post game should be a point of emphasis this offseason.
Big men are making a comeback in today's game, and fortunately, Portland has a future top-ten center on its hands. At 22 years old, Clingan has plenty of time to become a more well-rounded player, which will not only elevate his ceiling but also make him far less matchup dependent.
His second-season breakout proved that Clingan should officially be considered Portland's starting center of the future. He was arguably the third-best player on the roster, behind only Deni Avdija and Jrue Holiday. That makes Clingan suddenly one of the most vital pieces in Rip City, especially given his importance to their defensive identity as an elite rim protector.
A post game is key to unlocking Clingan's underrated ceiling
Their rebuild has taken an unexpected turn. After investing top-ten picks in Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson to jump-start their rebuild, the Blazers' frontcourt has become the legitimate building blocks, largely thanks to Clingan's breakout, which has solidified his place in their core.
That gives Portland's front office much-needed clarity heading into a key offseason in which they can take this roster in a variety of directions. They still have to figure out the frontcourt depth to spell Clingan, with Robert Williams eligible for an extension and Yang Hansen's uncertain trajectory after a shaky rookie campaign.
But one thing Portland doesn't have to worry about is finding a starting center, thanks to the fact that they nailed the weak 2024 draft. This season proved Clingan is already a starting-caliber center due to his rebounding and defensive impact. But if he can develop a post-game, an All-Star appearance in his future shouldn't be out of the question.
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