Greg Oden, Marcus Camby, Joel Przybilla, JJ Hickson, Robin Lopez, Mason Plumlee, Jusuf Nurkic, Hassan Whiteside and Deandre Ayton have served as Portland Trail Blazers starting centers over the past two decades. Each one contributed to the Blazers in their own unique way with varying levels of effectiveness.
Donovan Clingan has joined that club this season following the buyout of Ayton in late June. The 7’2 behemoth was taken out of UConn with the seventh pick in the 2024 NBA Draft following two NCAA titles. His first season earned a passing grade following his addition to the All-Rookie Second Team honors in what was an admittedly subpar rookie class.
At season’s end, he’d played 67 games, including 37 starts, delivering 6.5 points on 54 percent from the field with 8 boards. He produced 4.6 offensive rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 20 minutes per game.
Clingan’s rebounding and defensive credentials were and are unimpeachable thanks to his ridiculous length, size and instincts, which should serve him through a likely lengthy NBA career.
Conversely, the two big question marks that followed the now 21-year-old into the offseason were his conditioning and the lack of a tangible skill set on offense.
Was there any progress made?
This season
First things first, Clingan looked visibly different at first glimpse in October. He was slimmer and clearly able to run the court with a little more ease, proven by his current minutes extending out to 25.4 a game. A promising progression but hardly what you’d want in a finished product. While it might be difficult for a human being Clingan’s size, the goal should still be to get the number closer to 30 minutes.
Though he may not feature in every finishing lineup due to matchup considerations, it’d be handy for the Blazers coaching staff to have him physically able to play key minutes at the end of games. With Robert Williams III still an injury risk, Yang Hansen early in his development and Duop Reath playing based on matchup, Clingan will be given every chance to remain on the court as long as he’s able. His ability to alter shots and deter approaches to the rim continues to be a key part of his and this team’s defensive identity, of course influenced by the fact that he is swatting 3 percent of opponent attempts.
The question over a tangible offensive skill (outside of rebounding) has yet to eventuate. We can see he’s trying to work out his three-point shot, lifting his attempts from 0.7 to 2.9 a game. Unfortunately, the accuracy has decreased from 29 to 25.5 percent. I’m not writing it off but it’s yet to be a tick for the young big.
Despite his slimmer frame, Clingan hasn’t lost the ability to set a screen, giving drivers a little open air to do what they can with the ball approaching the rim. But his biggest offensive contribution to this team has been pretty obvious through the first five weeks.
Offensive rebounding
Clingan’s offensive rebounding has gone to a level where he’s directly contributing to the Blazers offensive fortunes, with 4.7 of his 10.0 coming at his team’s scoring end. Almost every game, you can see the sophomore battling multiple would-be defensive rebounders and invariably coming away with or tapping the ball to advantage. You can see the way he throws his body around to get the board, a determination we never saw with his Bahamian predecessor.
But it’s not just his size and 7’7 wingspan, Clingan’s instincts for where the ball is likely to fall is legitimate and a key factor in why he’s only second to the Houston Rockets’ Steven Adams in offensive rebounds.
More interestingly, Clingan is the number one active NBA player in contested offensive rebounds at 3.7 a game. James Wiseman is technically top, but he played one game for the Indiana Pacers pulling down 4 before being waived to make room for Mac Maclung.
Clingan’s rebounding contribution has directly led to the Blazers sitting second in second chance points at 19.1 a game, behind Adams’ Rockets with Clingan himself individually 13th in second chance points. In fact, when Clingan is on the court, the Blazers are +9.9 percent on the offensive boards, good enough for the 99th percentile.
I’d be the first to acknowledge that his inefficiency (53.7 percent on putbacks) on the first try might be contributing to the high number of offensive boards he’s able to grab. But I have a strange confidence that the accuracy will come around.
The impact
The Blazers have some serious questions to answer on the offensive side of the ball. The lack of three point shooting makes it difficult for them to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
Offensive rebounds and second chance points aren’t a luxury for this team, they’re a necessity. Clingan is the source for many of them. The fact that he’s pulling down the most contested offensive rebounds suggests he might indirectly by one of the most important offensive cogs on the squad.
For those unfamiliar with nuance, I’m not for a second suggesting Clingan is the most important offensive player on this team. Somebody still has to put the ball through the hoop. But it’s via Clingan’s ability to give the Blazers second and third opportunities that has given this squad a chance to score without the requisite offensive power.
Conclusion
Donovan Clingan is the Blazers’ very large and very imposing defensive anchor. But he’s also helping the Blazers put second chance points on the board against rattled, unset defenses. The big man needs to continue building his tolerance for minutes and try and solidify a tangible offensive skill. In the meantime he’s serving the Blazers by giving him and and his teammates second and third chances at points.
I’m curious to see where he is at season’s end and whether he’s made a case for an All Defensive Team honor. In the meantime, this team needs him pulling down rebounds, both offensive and defensive to give the Blazers extra chances at possession.