badinage wrote:What’s wrong with Clingan?
Methinks we’re seeing what he can’t do instead of seeing what he can.
He’s also not a finished product.
7-3 in shoes. 280. A shutdown center inside. Makes smart plays. Efficient.
On offense, still a WIP. But he’ll score a little on rolls and putbacks. And maybe the shot develops.
His development from freshman year to sophomore year — it’s almost Hakeem-like. Massive jump to the player who dominated the inside in the NCAA tourney.
Two titles in two years.
If this is Marc Gasol — and that’s who I see so far as a comp — that’s a player.
I like Clingan fine. I think his passing is an underappreciated aspect of his game. Maybe he gets comfortable shooting an outside shot, or even a midrange above the FT line. If so it weaponizes his passing. I like the Gasol analogy, hopefully he gets a jumper sooner than Marc did to expand his game beyond the paint.
Defensively talking heads were discussing how mobile they thought he was guarding both outside and in. However the combine showed him to be notably slow-footed. I noticed in watching Stephon Castle highlights how often Clingan was marooned on the 3pt line where Castle ended up switching to defend the roll man all the way in and force the miss. Or Castle stifled the penetration long enough for Clingan to recover. But his mobility in a short space is excellent. He pivots and adjusts well under the cylinder, and looks like he'll be able to dance on the edge of those 3 second violations, defending a few players at once with size and rotation and length.
If I nitpick, I don't like his hands in traffic or under the basket. He bobbles receptions and misses putbacks when crowded. Maybe he gets stronger and is less likely to be jostled, I do see a risk in him adding muscle mass since he is one of those true giant types and has already had leg injury issues. That's the vulnerability of the biggest of the big. (A reason I'm so high on Edey is that despite a heavy load he has been durable and healthy). Medical staff will want a close look.
I have other guys I like better at #2, but he no question adds to a team's win total. Fills a need. I'd take him on a trade back. OTOH Sounds like Atlanta loves him and may trade out of #1 to take him a little lower so if we want him then #2 is the spot. I dunno. I would not cry if he's the pick. Positional length, BBIQ check. Upside, if he adds to his offense, sure.
