With the NBA Draft Lottery complete, the Blazers walked away holding pair of lottery picks in next month's NBA Draft. Portland holds the seventh and 14th picks in the 2024 NBA Draft.

This year's draft is considered to be a bit of a downer compared to recent years. There is certainly talent to be found, but there isn't considered to be a significant number of top-tier players available at the top of the draft. This means that, while a transcendent superstar may not be had, there are still quality rotation players to be found throughout the first round.

With the uncertainty surround this year's draft, there are multiple players in play for the Blazers with the seventh (and 14th) pick next month. Today we profile star UConn center Donovan Clingan.

Clingan is headed to the NBA after two great seasons in the UConn basketball program. It's not certain where he will go in the 2024 NBA Draft but he is expected to be drafted highly, especially as he continues to impress in the pre-draft process.

At the combine, Clingan showed some impressive mobility, shot the ball well and measured in at 282 pounds and 7-foot-2 without shoes with a 7-foot-7 wingspan. The UConn star lagged behind other bigs such as Zach Edey, Alex Sarr and Kel'el Ware in the sprint and max vertical but still had a promising showing that should bolster his draft stock.

Donovan Clingan strengths

Clingan’s NBA potential is directly tied to his ability to block and alter shots on the defensive side of the ball. With his massive wingspan, Clingan swatted shots and struck fear into opponents throughout his time at UConn. His shot blocking prowess goes beyond just his massive size. Clingan is nearly always in position on the defensive end. At the rim, Clingan does a solid job staying vertical to avoid foul trouble. He is a massive player, which allows him to hold his ground when matched up against traditional bigs – even at the NBA level.

Offensively, Clingan sets solid screens, rolls to the basket effectively, and possesses soft hands that are capable of catching passes in traffic. At the rim, Clingan keeps things simple and efficient with powerful dunks. During his second year at UConn, Clingan showed that he has a developing drop-step move that opens up looks at the rim. As a rebounder, Clingan puts his length to good use and fights for proper positioning under the rim.

Donovan Clingan weaknesses

Clingan’s lack of versatility lowers his ceiling as a top-level prospect. He frankly hasn’t shown that he has the speed to play defense in open space. When outside of drop coverage, Clingan struggles to play meaningful defense in the pick-and-roll. Among the centers at this year’s combine, Clingan finished last in the shuttle run, lane agility drill, and the three-quarter sprint.

Clingan’s health is another key concern. He missed four weeks of action after a tendon injury in his right foot, and his minutes and production sometimes suffered as a result. Clingan also needs to work on his free throws, as his poor percentages won’t fly in the NBA.

Donovan Clingan's potential fit with Blazers

Clingan’s rim protection, even in a backup role, could provide immediate help to the Blazers' defense. However, Clingan feels more like a player that Portland should target once they have a foundation of talent in place. While effective at what he does, Clingan has limited versatility on both ends of the floor. He also benefited from successful coaching and an effective scheme in college – and there's no guarantee that will translate well to the NBA level.

Most importantly, there will likely be other players with higher two-way upside available than Clingan when the Blazers are on the clock.