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 about $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 by 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.