The Portland Trail Blazers announced their 2024-25 preseason schedule. The schedule consists of four games, two of which are home at Moda Center. It also includes a few intriguing storylines. The Blazers are playing the L.A. Clippers in Seattle, Washington, for the second time. They also have a home international friendly game against German team Ratiopharm Ulm.
Blazers 2024-25 full preseason schedule
Date | Opponent | Time (all PT) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
Oct. 11 | @ L.A. Clippers | 7 p.m. | Climate Pledge Arena - Seattle, WA |
Oct. 13 | @ Sacramento Kings | 3 p.m. | Golden 1 Center |
Oct. 16 | vs. Ratiopharm Ulm | 7 p.m. | Moda Center |
Oct. 18 | vs. Utah Jazz | 7 p.m. | Moda Center |
Excellent opportunity for Blazers to integrate Clingan into offense
Donovan Clingan, the Blazers' No. 7 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, shined in his four Las Vegas Summer League games. He had historic Summer League numbers, averaging 12.3 rebounds and 4.2 blocks per game. He was recognized for his performance by receiving a much-deserved All-Summer League Second Team spot.
If there was one knock on Clingan's four-game stretch, it was that he didn't dominate offensively. Although he had promising flashes as a rim runner and did a solid job taking advantage of smaller players in the post, he averaged just nine points per game. Clingan's offensive game is limited at this point in his career. But he's also someone who will benefit tremendously from better guard play, which will put him in ideal situations to utilize his athleticism and 7-foot-2 frame better.
Many of the Blazers' guards in Summer League could have done a better job as playmakers and creating opportunities for their big men, both in pick-and-rolls and simple post-entry passes. Scoot Henderson and Anfernee Simons will be significant upgrades for Clingan in this aspect. His defensive impact should immediately translate to the NBA level, which was evident in the Summer League. But he needs more help on the offensive end, as most centers do.
Preseason will also be a prime opportunity for head coach Chauncey Billups to experiment with a potential Twin Towers lineup by playing Clingan alongside Deandre Ayton. Clingan has been eager to show that he can stretch the floor. He shot 3.3 threes a game in the Summer League but only connected on 23.1 of those attempts.
Meanwhile, Ayton said a while back while still on the Phoenix Suns that power forward is his 'born-and-raised' position. The Blazers' potential Twin Towers lineup likely only works against specific teams in particular matchups, like the Minnesota Timberwolves with Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns. Still, these four games are a prime chance for Billups and the Blazers to experiment and see how effectively (or ineffectively) Clingan and Ayton share the court.