Donovan Clinga was labeled a placeholder for Yang Hansen. Portland has made him a cornerstone.
Donovan Clingan entered his second NBA season hearing talk that his days as a starter for the Portland Trail Blazers were numbered. Yang Hansen entered the Association with a mountain of hype, with many comparing him to Nikola Jokic and claiming that it was only a matter of time before he took Clingan's spot.
As the Trail Blazers bounce back from a tough stretch and string together wins, however, they've backed Clingan and granted his wish for consistently big minutes.