Trail Blazers Rumors: Portland may move up in 2024 NBA Draft to secure big man

The Portland Trail Blazers have two lottery picks (No. 7 and No. 14) in the upcoming 2024 NBA Draft. However, according to recent reports from ESPN draft expert Jonathan Givony, they may not be content with staying in their current position. As the draft approaches less than a month away, the trade chatter is heating up, and the Blazers moving up to secure their defensive-minded big man of the future is becoming a hot topic. 

Trail Blazers will likely have to trade up to secure Donovan Clingan

Rip City Project had a prior mock draft roundup for pick No. 7, and two of the four drafts had the Blazers selecting Connecticut center Donovan Clingan. While that would have great value at No. 7, it seems increasingly unlikely Clingan will be available by the time Portland is on the clock. Givony mentions it's "hard to see a scenario in which Clingan – the No. 3 player on ESPN's Big Board – falls to No. 7." 

"There's chatter around the league that teams such as Portland, Memphis and Chicago might look to move up to draft Clingan earlier than this... Clingan brings size, length, defensive prowess, nonstop intensity and passing ability along with a back-to-back national championship pedigree. He has plenty of room for growth alongside the Blazers' core at just 20 years old."

- Jonathan Givony

If Portland targets Clingan in this year's draft, they will likely have to trade up to get their guy. If they decide to move up, the Rockets at pick No. 3 make sense as a potential trade partner. The Rockets, looking to make a playoff push, and the Blazers, hopefully looking to continue their rebuild, are heading in opposite directions and could benefit from a trade with each other. According to Givony, the Rockets will "heavily pursue trade opportunities." 

Like any trade, whether Portland should move up to secure Clingan depends on the assets required in exchange. Although it is widely considered an underwhelming draft class, it will still likely require significant assets to move into the top three. It would be great to have Clingan, but if the asking price is too steep, the Blazers are better off staying put with their two lottery picks