2024 NBA Mock Draft 3.0: Hawks court chaos, Spurs speed up rebuild, Lakers surprise
By Cal Durrett
7) Portland Trail Blazers-Donovan Clingan
Although there have been rumors that the Hawks could trade down and select him, at the moment we will project Connecticut center Donovan Clingan to be taken 7th overall by the Portland Trail Blazers. While the Trail Blazers already have a starting center in Deandre Ayton, who played well for them last season, Clingan is just 20 years old and projects to be an elite defensive player for years to come.
Having a player like that could be huge for a rebuilding franchise such as Portland. After all, teams in their position often focus on offensive players and then struggle to add defensive players when they get good. When Portland is ready to compete again, Clingan could oversee a top-10 defense.
It might not be the most exciting way to spend a top-7 pick, but the Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum-era Blazers were partially limited due to the team's ceiling on defense. Based on that, the Blazers would be smart to pick Clingan if he were to fall to them at seven, with him possibly being their long-term answer at center.