Two Rookies That Can Provide an Instant Impact This Season
At the NBA draft, many teams look to draft freshmen after their first year of college or young international players because they are viewed as having the most potential. In this year’s draft, two teams specifically leaned on college experience rather than future potential, and after great performances in the preseason, these selections look to impact their teams right away. The number seven selection in the draft Donovan Clingan has had a stellar preseason for the Portland Trail Blazers. Additionally, Dalton Knecht the 17th pick in this year's draft has also looked great for the Los Angeles Lakers. Assuming these two players are able to keep up their success this season, teams may think twice about drafting high-potential players rather than highly experienced players.
Beginning with Donovan Clingan, in three preseason games for the Trail Blazers he ranked second among the entire league in rebounds per game at 11.7 despite averaging the fewest minutes played of all rebounders in the top ten. This number trailed only four-time NBA rebound leader Andre Drummond of the Philadelphia Seventy-Sixers. Clingan was also able to average 10.3 points per contest while also averaging 2.33 blocks per game. The seven-foot-two center ranked fourth among all preseason players in blocks with Evan Mobley leading the way at 3.33 blocks per game. Assuming that Clingan is able to continue to contest shots and dominate the glass at the NBA level, he is on track to become one of the league's next double-double machines. Most importantly, Clingan’s play will help shore up the Trail Blazers front court and center position which has looked weak ever since dealing Jusuf Nurkic to the Phoenix Suns.
Next, is Dalton Knecht who had a phenomenal preseason. Knecht is a rare first-round draft choice who played five years in college, gaining an extra year of eligibility due to COVID-19 in 2020. In the preseason Knecht averaged 18 points over five games, tying him for eighth among all preseason players. Furthermore, Knecht finished fourth in three-point field goals made, with 18 while shooting a respectable 36 percent. This total of made three-pointers trailed only Payton Pritchard, Brandon Miller, and Buddy Hield. Knecht’s three-point percentage was not a product of low-volume shooting either, as he managed 36 percent over a league-leading 50 attempts. With first-year head coach and former sharpshooter JJ Redick calling plays, expect Knecht to find himself with plenty of open opportunities to knock down this season.
Although the preseason is a small sample size, Clingan and Knecht have shown that they are more than capable of performing in the NBA through their preseason and summer league performances. Their anticipated success may change the strategy of teams drafting in the first round for years to come, as their college experience looks to parlay into professional success. While Clingan is expected to receive lots of minutes this year due to the state of the Blazers, Knecht may see more limited action as the Lakers look to make a playoff push. Either way, with the talent that these two have shown, it is only a matter of time before these two players are known as draft-day steals due to their production value in comparison to their draft position.
