Major Injury Puts Blazers in a Tough Spot

The Portland Trail Blazers just took a major hit to their already shaky frontcourt. Deandre Ayton is set to miss at least four weeks after suffering a left calf strain in the team’s February 10 loss to the Nuggets. The injury forced him out in the second half, and after further evaluation, the Blazers confirmed they’ll have to roll without their starting center for a crucial stretch of the season.

Ayton’s absence couldn’t come at a worse time. Portland has been scraping the bottom of the Western Conference standings, trying to find something—anything—resembling consistency. Even in the middle of their struggles, Ayton had been one of the team’s few reliable contributors, averaging 15.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game while anchoring the paint on both ends.

When the Blazers landed Ayton in the Damian Lillard trade, the franchise’s vision was clear: give him a bigger role and see if he could flourish in a rebuilding situation. While his scoring efficiency has been up and down, his rebounding and rim protection have been invaluable, especially for a team lacking size in the frontcourt.

Now, Chauncey Billups has to figure out what’s next.

With Ayton sidelined, Portland has three options: turn to rookie center Donovan Clingan, veteran Moses Brown, or get creative with small-ball lineups featuring Jerami Grant at the five.

Clingan, the 7’2” rookie out of UConn, has already displayed serious potential. Just days after Ayton went down, he put up 17 points and 20 rebounds, becoming the first Blazers rookie since 1985 to grab 20 boards in a game. His defensive timing and rebounding instincts make him an intriguing choice for extended minutes, but he’s still raw offensively and hasn’t proven he can handle starter-level matchups night in and night out.

Then there’s Moses Brown, a solid but unspectacular backup. He can give the team some size in spurts, but his limited offensive skill set makes him more of a stopgap than a solution.