Zach Lowe is officially back! Kirk Goldsberry joined Lowe on The Zach Lowe Show, and the two went through the NBA awards, including the All-Rookie Teams. Goldsberry and Lowe had surprisingly different votes, but one common name on their All-Rookie Second Team was Donovan Clingan.
Although Clingan made both of their lists, he will be a controversial choice to make an All-Rookie Team, as Lowe highlighted the lack of separation between players from the 2024 draft class. However, one trait, in particular, could give him that separation he needs in a close race: rim protection.
"He has one thing he does really well, and it's really important in the game of basketball. His rim protection is noteworthy," said Goldsberry. "Portland had flashes of competence throughout the season, and he was a part of that. He can rebound the basketball -- he's a presence. But ultimately, it's blocked shots and rim protection. That's a really valuable skill in the NBA right now, and Portland should be excited they got it."
"That's exactly my reasoning," said Lowe. "He does one thing already really well, and it's protect the basket."
Clingan deserves an All-Rookie selection primarily because he's the best defensive anchor in the class. But even more important than the recognition that comes with the award is the actual impact Clingan's elite rim protection has on the Blazers' long-term outlook.
Clingan's elite rim protection makes him Blazers' long-term center
Lowe notes that opponents are shooting 49 percent at the rim when he is the closest defender, which compares to peak Rudy Gobert levels. Gobert has been a four-time Defensive Player of the Year and a seven-time All-Defensive First Team member throughout his underappreciated career.
The DOPY award is likely Victor Wembanyama's to lose for the next decade, but Clingan does possess an All-Defensive upside.
This season, he's averaging 6.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and, perhaps most importantly, 1.6 blocks. That's promising for a rookie, but those rebound and block totals are even more impressive, considering that Cligan averages under 20 minutes a contest.
He's incredibly impactful as a rim protector, blocking shots and deterring opponents from attacking the basket. That's reflected in his elite per-36 numbers, where he's already leading the league with 3.0 blocks per game.
Portland's defense has significantly improved since the All-Star break, ranking sixth in defensive rating (112.9) during that stretch. Swapping Deandre Ayton for Clingan certainly played a significant role in that.
The Blazers are the tallest team in the league this season and have been establishing a new identity with their young core as a defensive-minded team that utilizes that length both in terms of versatility out on the perimeter and physicality inside the paint. The additions of Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara are responsible for the former, but the switch to Clingan has catalyzed the latter.
This end-of-season stretch with Ayton out of the picture proves that Clingan should be the priority going forward. Portland's defense is better off for it.