Donovan Clingan, a promising NBA sophomore, is shaping up for a significant breakout season with the Portland Trail Blazers. Selected seventh overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, Clingan has attracted attention despite the team’s recent selection of another center, Yang Hansen, at 16th overall in the 2025 draft. With Portland’s evolving roster, Clingan’s role appears set to expand as the team balances new talent and veteran presence.
Early Career Performance and Defensive Potential
During his rookie campaign, Clingan averaged 6.5 points and 7.9 rebounds across nearly 20 minutes per game, showcasing his defensive capabilities. As noted by ESPN’s Jeremy Woo, Clingan’s value goes beyond scoring with his potential to become a key interior defender. The Trail Blazers seem to be preparing to split center duties between Clingan and Hansen next season, signaling confidence in both players’ development and an intention to foster a long-term presence in the paint.
Team Strategy and Playing Time Considerations
The Blazers’ current roster still includes Robert Williams III, whose expiring contract has made him a likely candidate for a trade. This situation opens the door for Clingan to claim more minutes on the floor. However, improving his conditioning remains crucial for Clingan to maintain stamina during increased playing time. Clingan’s ability to start the final 27 games of his rookie season suggests the coaching staff is already leaning toward giving him a more prominent role moving forward.
The Possibility of Dual-Center Lineups
Experimentation with double-center lineups featuring Clingan and Hansen presents an intriguing possibility, albeit one that appears awkward on paper. Portland’s apparent commitment to both players indicates a willingness to explore how they can complement each other on the court, despite the potential lineup challenges. This strategy may reveal new defensive looks and bolster the team’s interior presence, emphasizing Clingan’s anticipated rise as a key defensive asset.
Recognition Among NBA Sophomores
Analysts have recognized Clingan’s promise, placing him fifth on Jeremy Woo’s list of ten promising NBA sophomores. Notably, Clingan ranks just ahead of Alex Sarr, the Washington Wizards’ second-overall pick in 2024, with Reed Sheppard of the Houston Rockets leading the group. This comparison highlights the growing respect for Clingan’s abilities relative to his draft class peers and underscores his potential to develop into one of the better young defenders in the league.
“The Trail Blazers seemingly cleared the way for Clingan and draftee Yang Hansen to share time at center next season — Robert Williams III is still around, but could make sense as an eventual trade candidate on his expiring contract. It will be interesting to see how those minutes ultimately get divided based on performance. Clingan is deserving of the lion’s share but also needs to improve his conditioning to handle bulk minutes. The fact that he started the final 27 games of the season is probably a fair indicator that he’s up next. As an aside, whether the Blazers experiment with Clingan and Yang together in double-big lineups will be something to watch. On paper, that fit is clunky, but considering Portland’s apparent long-term investment in both players, there’s at least some argument for finding out what it looks like. All things considered, Clingan is due for an expanded role and could solidify himself as one of the NBA’s better interior defenders in short order.”
—Jeremy Woo, ESPN Analyst
Future Outlook for Donovan Clingan
As the Trail Blazers prepare for the upcoming season, Donovan Clingan’s evolving role could have a meaningful impact on the team’s interior defense and overall dynamics. If he can improve his conditioning and maintain consistent performance, Clingan stands to emerge as a core piece in Portland’s rotation. The potential for shared minutes with Yang Hansen and the possibility of double-big lineups add layers of strategic intrigue, making Clingan a player to watch closely as the season unfolds.