Blazers Address Needs, Add Flexibility on Draft Night

The Portland Trail Blazers pulled off two solid roster additions on the first night of the 2024 NBA Draft. Prior to the start of the draft, the Blazers completed a trade with the Wizards to acquire forward Deni Avdija. In the draft, Portland used the No. 7 selection to land towering center Donovan Clingan. Both moves should boost the Blazers’ defense and roster flexibility in the years ahead.

Cap-Friendly Two-Way Forward Comes to Town

Avdija, who is younger than current Blazers forward Kris Murray, has steadily improved in each of his four seasons in the NBA. Buoyed by his 6-foot-9 frame, Avdija is an excellent rebounder and a competent two-way player. As currently constructed, Portland’s starting forward rotation should feature two versatile players with size in Jerami Grant and Avdija. For the first time since Maurice Harkless and Al-Farouq Aminu were on the roster, the Blazers will have matchup-friendly size in the frontcourt.

Offensively, Avdija has started to blossom into the playmaker that he was billed as prior to entering the NBA. Last season, he kept defenses honest with an improved three-point percentage. After hovering around 30 percent through his first three seasons, he connected on 37.4 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc in the 2023-24 campaign. Along with his floor spacing, Avdija proved he can serve as a secondary facilitator. He posted a career-best 3.8 assists per game last season.

The biggest selling point for Avdija is his age and cap-friendly contract. His cap figure steadily descends over the next four seasons, which paves the way for immediate and future flexibility for the Blazers. Yes, the Blazers shipped out a significant haul, but they avoided committing to two lottery picks in a lackluster draft class. Avdija’s best years are ahead of him and he has the two-way skills to thrive in multiple lineup combinations.

Future Pivot

After trading the No. 14 pick, the Blazers kept their position at the No. 7 slot and watched Clingan land in their lap. Clingan and his big body served as the defensive anchor for a UConn team that won consecutive titles. Clingan’s upside is directly tied to his work in the paint. During his time in college, he dominated with elite rebounding and shot blocking. Both of those skills should translate to the NBA. Offensively, Clingan was an effective roll man in pick-and-roll actions. His strength, size, and soft hands combined to make him a guard’s best friend in half-court sets.

The concerns surrounding Clingan’s NBA future are directly tied to his lack of mobility and offensive versatility. Clingan was an ineffective shooter from outside the restricted area in college. His lack of touch and poor free throw shooting raise serious doubts about his ability to develop those skills going forward. On defense, Clingan is at his best when he is allowed to drop back into the paint. Clingan must prove he can hold his own in space. If he is unable to do that, he will be targeted by opposing teams.

The Blazers certainly appear positioned for an additional move at the center position. Ayton, Clingan, Robert Williams, and Duop Reath form one of the deepest center rotations in the NBA.

Trail Blazers Draft Opening Night Grade: B+

Due to the nature of the 2024 class, I did not expect to be this optimistic about the Blazers’ moves. In a class filled with unproven players, Clingan has proven he can function as a primary option on a successful squad. His rebounding and rim protection should translate to the NBA.

Landing Avdija pushes the Blazers’ grade over the top. His versatility and cap-friendly contract are a huge boost to Portland’s roster. The Blazers managed to get out of the No. 14 pick in the process. Perhaps the biggest concern with today’s moves is that they could hurt Portland’s lottery odds for the loaded 2025 draft class.