Rookie Donovan Clingan posted his first double-double in nearly two months during the Trail Blazers‘ loss at Dallas Thursday night, writes Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian. With Robert Williams resting, Clingan served as Portland’s primary backup center and played more than 24 minutes off the bench.
“I thought DC played great,” coach Chauncey Billups said. “I really did. His minutes were good. … He had some big finishes around the basket and he played really tough.”
Fentress notes that Clingan hasn’t put up those type of numbers since November 13 when he had 17 points and 12 rebounds while starting in place of an injured Deandre Ayton. He suffered a knee strain later that month that sidelined him for seven games and affected his conditioning, but he appears to be fully back in game shape.
“It was good to see him back to being DC again,” Billups added. “That was extremely positive.”
There’s more from Portland:
- Even though the Blazers remain near the bottom of the West at 13-24, they’re coming off a promising five-game road trip, Fentress adds in a separate story. Portland went 2-3, but could have been 4-1 if two big leads hadn’t slipped away. “Learning how to play down the stretch of games,” Billups said. “What’s important. How to take care of the ball. How to get the right shots. Getting the ball in the right guy’s hands. We can preach it until they’re blue in the face, but until you’re actually in the hit, in the moment, is when you actually learn it.”
- A potential rookie-scale extension for Shaedon Sharpe will be one of the most important decisions facing Blazers management this summer, Sean Highkin of Rose Garden Report states in a mailbag column. Current projections have the max for Sharpe’s 2022 draft class at nearly $247MM over five years. Highkin expects a new deal for Sharpe to be more in line with the Pelicans’ Trey Murphy at $112MM over four years or the Magic’s Jalen Suggs and the Hawks’ Jalen Johnson, who each got $150MM over five years. Sharpe would become a restricted free agent in 2026 if he doesn’t reach an extension before the start of next season.
- Swingman Matisse Thybulle will be reevaluated in two weeks as he works his way back from a sprained right ankle, the Trail Blazers announced (via Twitter). Thybulle, who appeared in 65 games last year, has yet to play this season.
- Jerami Grant will miss his sixth straight game tonight with a face contusion. Billups said Grant continues to experience jaw and neck soreness, but he will start ramping up soon in preparation for a return, Highkin tweets.
Portland really just need to start over from Cronin to Billups and the rest of the roster.
Trade Ayton who isn’t a long term piece, Clingan is your guy. Trade away Grant to the highest bidder he’s a win now guy on a lose now team.
Anfernee Simon’s, he should be shipped away cause he’s to good to be playing for this team.
Scoot Henderson he’s on fraud watch, if I don’t see much improvement by the end of the year then your no longer say to call my franchise point guard and you may also be out the door.
Mattise and Rob Williams why are you guys on this team just collecting DNP’s. Your hardly offering veteran leadership go be role players on teams trying to do something.
Deni Avdja stop turning the ball over otherwise you might get turned over to another team.
For now its really Sharpe and Clingan and the rest in all eyes and ears on.
The plan should be lose as much as you can and try add either Cooper Flagg, Ace Bailey or Dylan Harper through the draft.
Collect first round picks through trades and take your time in rebuilding the right way.
As for the coach, I’d go get Adrian Griffin who served his time working his way up as an assistant before prematurely being sacked by the Bucks cause Giannas wanted Doc Rivers.
Griffin lead them to a 30-13 record before he was fired, Doc then took over and they got beat in the first round of the playoffs by the Pacers 4-2.
He’s a quality coach, plays with more of an emphasis on defence and working hard and that’s what the Blazers need.
They’re already doing better than Adrian Griffin with Billups.
Why is Billups better than Griffin?
Griffin as a head coach (half a season) has a 0.698 win-loss percentage.
Blazers haven’t had a better season by win loss percentage since 99-00.
In Billups best season they had a 0.402 percentage.
So no they aren’t doing better with Billups
You did not just use winning percentage for your argument…
I watch 100% of Blazers games, but for other teams, I watch at most about 10 games a year, so there’s a lot I don’t know. I’m certain that Shae and DC are the pillars of the team. Scoot might seem like a bust to people who only look at stats, but his quality of play is improving. His catch-and-shoot is getting better, and he’s becoming an average shooter. Defensively, he’s on an upward trajectory. While he’s not a franchise point guard, what matters most to us is whether Shae can become a franchise player. So, I’m not overly concerned about Scoot’s development.
DC is like Brook Lopez, while Toumani Camara is still relatively unknown nationally. He belongs in the same tier as Herbert Jones and Jaden McDaniels. Statistically, Tou is already one of the top perimeter defenders, but unless you watch the games, you won’t fully grasp just how good his defense is. If we draft Flagg, our rebuild will be complete. If we miss him, my second choice is McNeeley. I’m not very interested in Ace or Harper; they seem like the type to rack up a lot of points on losing teams. Since we’re confident in Shae as our first option, we don’t need scorers who demand the ball. McNeeley’s smart shot selection, off-ball movement, and quick passing decisions make him resemble a Hayward or Middleton type. He’s mocked around 15th, but I don’t understand why so many people are overlooking a 6-8 elite shooter.
I think both Ant and Ayton should be traded. However, I don’t consider Ant a great player. He’s one of the league’s worst defenders and rebounders, a tank commander of glory. The number of easy second-chance opportunities he’s allowed opponents is staggering. We know that if Scoot plays instead of Ant, we risk winning more games because Scoot is a better defender, rebounder, and passer. Scoring is the only area where Ant is superior.
Ayton’s contract makes him difficult to trade. He might get moved next year when it’s closer to expiring, but for now, he’s just a placeholder to ease DC’s transition. RWIII and Thybulle will likely start taking off in the 25-26 season. If Ant and DA are traded and we nail the draft (Flagg/McNeeley), we’ll be ready to push for the playoffs, incorporating RWIII and others into the rotation.
PG: Scoot
SG: Shae/Thybulle
SF: Camara/McNeeley
PF: Grant/Deni
C: Clingan/RWIII
I think the reason they’re keeping these players now is that they want this kind of rotation next season. They know we’ll mostly be ready to compete by then, so they’re not rushing to trade them.
I think you are in for a surprise lol
Really good write up and I think a lot of our thinking is on the same page.
I think Flagg is by far the best player in this class. Bailey is to me the big overhype high draft pick that won’t meet expectations.
His 56% from the FT line is a major worry and so is the 0.7 assists.
I also like Jakucionis, big point guard, top tier shooter, good defensively and to me projects to be a really good fit next to a star guard. Happy to play off ball as a shooter but also can facilitate and run the show when called upon. Like a better version of Malcom Brogdan.
Kon Knueppel, I think would also be a good option. Think he resembles more of a safe option for the SF spot. He’s a good all round player but going to be best known as a shooter and scorer. Think he’s a good 3rd option (Kris Middleton, Tobias Harris, Shane Battier type).