Donovan Clingan is making waves in the NBA, with some suggesting the Portland Trail Blazers pulled off a draft steal. ESPN’s NBA insiders recently named Clingan the unsung hero for the Portland Trail Blazers roster.
Clingan’s impact includes an improved Portland defence, and he’s also one of only eight players averaging a double-double this season.
Clingan’s Surprising Rise
Only in his second season, Clingan wasn’t expected to make such a significant two-way impact so early. His improved conditioning, a surprising three-point shot, and underrated court vision are contributing factors. These attributes have led to Clingan’s rising importance in Portland’s rebuild.
How Portland Landed Clingan
Clingan entered the 2024 draft class after back-to-back NCAA national championships. Despite his key role in those championship runs, he fell to pick No. 7. Some believe that in a re-draft, Clingan should be firmly inside the top three.
Portland apparently valued Clingan highly entering the draft. One Blazers insider suspected Clingan was the top-ranked player on their board.
Draft Day Decisions
The Atlanta Hawks were considering Clingan with the No. 1 overall selection. It’s already becoming apparent that Clingan would’ve been the better choice over Zaccharie Risacher.
Portland’s front office is receiving credit for their evaluation of Clingan and their decision to stand pat at pick No. 7. They could’ve traded up, but their patience paid off, because many teams selecting ahead of them already had their centre position solidified.
A Building Block for the Blazers
Landing Clingan in a weak draft was what Portland’s rebuild needed. The jury is still out on how prior top ten picks Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson pan out. Sharpe has put up impressive numbers this season, but its unclear how that translates to a contending team. There are even more question marks surrounding Henderson, as his inconsistent play and non-linear development have been a cloud over this entire rebuild.
By landing Clingan the following year, the Blazers drafted a legitimate building block. They believe he can be a starting-caliber player on the championship version of whatever this final roster may look like.
That’s a major discovery for someone who’s just 22 years old and still has plenty of time to grow.
Clingan continues to prove his ceiling is higher than anyone expected, which should be a scary thought for the rest of the league.