I’m just playing. I’m not liking the pick either. Portland could have picked from Buzellis or Williams. Oh well. Pretty sure Cronin put the team on the treadmill and over paid for a decent forward. But he did get them under the tax threshold which we know was a Vulcan mandate.
J Kyle Mann had Clingan going at #1. https://www.theringer.com/platform/...024-rumors-preview-bronny-james-atlanta-hawks There are very few sure things in any draft, but in this one, confidence is even rarer and harder to come by—which is why I find myself leaning toward what at first glance might seem like conservative thinking, though I don’t think that’s the case. Clingan is 7-foot-2 with a 7-foot-6 wingspan, a surprisingly smooth gait and directional mobility when defending in space, and a bit of a mean streak when protecting the rim. At a second, closer glance, some promising micro-skills on offense sweeten the pot: He showed a real knack and comfort level operating in a quick-read system away from the rim as a screener and is an underrated passer. Clingan’s bag around the rim will need to expand and sharpen, but he was an opportunistic post-up presence within UConn’s offense—ducking in at the rim when defenses over-pursued the Huskies’ shooters and getting off the ball when extra help came. He was in the 92nd percentile passing out of the post when the defense committed and in the 99th percentile when hard doubled. I think Clingan will be a playoff-level anchor within a year of being in the league, if not sooner.
I feel like when Shams reported the trade that would have moved Memphis in front of us at 6, Joe sent a text message to the Charlotte GM and it was a pic of the Charlotte GMs house and Joe just captioned it, "We have men outside your door, do not trade that pick!" and that's how we ended up with Clingan.
From SI Clingan slid down the board slightly after many believed he could hear his name called in the first three picks, but his floor on draft night was always likely Portland at No. 7. It’s a major coup for Portland, picking up an elite rim protector prospect with Rudy Gobert–like upside without having to move up the board at the expense of future draft capital. Having dynamic young guards like Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe and Anfernee Simons setting Clingan up seems like an ideal way to maximize his offensive skill set as well. Grade: A
Switchability has been the thing for awhile. Not sure this is the right move. Trying to copy the Timberwolves Twin Towers perhaps?
He melted down after Sharpe? Easily the highest ceiling player on the team? Rich indeed, like Bezos rich.
Who would you have rather we drafted? Cody Williams may be okay but the dude disappeared big time under the bright lights in the biggest games while Clingan balled out. May not necessarily translate to the pros but certainly a potential red flag. Otherwise in the selections immediately following ours you're talking about largely mediocre PG prospects and flawed guys like Buzelis who was a brickmason on a 2-32 team.
Blazers took the best available player, and at a position of need. I've got nothing to complain about.
