Blazers Edge Roundtable: Does a Lillard and Morant Backcourt Hurt Donovan Clingan?

Blazer's Edge writers debated whether pairing guards Damian Lillard and Ja Morant in Portland would negatively impact center Donovan Clingan entering his third season. Clingan made significant strides in his second year, leading the NBA in offensive rebounds while finishing fourth in total rebounds and blocked shots. The panel evaluated whether covering for defensive lapses from a smaller backcourt would trigger regression or provide an ideal platform to showcase his rim protection.

The writers expressed optimism about Clingan's trajectory, though Max Contract warned that overcompensating for perimeter breakdowns could increase the center's foul trouble. Kevin Lawler highlighted the offensive potential of Clingan operating alongside elite pick-and-roll ballhandlers, while Josh Fisher and Paul Navarre argued that facing frequent drives will allow Clingan to thrive as an elite defensive anchor.