Blazers GM Joe Cronin On Draft: ‘We’re Not Good Enough To Be Content At Any Position’

Portland Trail Blazers GM Joe Cronin was a man making moves on Day One of the 2024 NBA Draft.

Not only did he pull off a trade with the Washington Wizards to acquire forward Deni Avdija, the Blazers landed center Donovan Clingan with the No. 7 overall selection. The Clingan pick means Portland now has three true centers, with Deandre Ayton, a still-recovering Robert Williams III (knee) and their new rookie.

So why did Cronin trade for a forward and draft another center?

“We’re not good enough to be content at any position,” he told reporters, via Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report. “We’ve got to build depth all around this roster.”

The Blazers finished 21-61 this past season, so Cronin has a point. They need help everywhere.

“Rim protection has been a big hole of ours,” Cronin said. “Donovan helps solve that problem.”

There is no doubt about Clingan as a defender of the paint, and a winner, after back-to-back titles at UConn. But like most lottery picks, he’ll have to adapt to some serious losing this season. Barring a trade, there’s no reason to believe the Blazers are headed for a meteoric rise.

“We’ve got to continue to build this talent base,” Cronin said. “We’re committed to (Scoot Henderson) and (Shaedon Sharpe) being a massive part of what we’re doing. How do we find ways to give them the support they need and make them better and maximize their development?”

Those questions and more face the Blazers this offseason and heading into next. But at least the GM is being honest. They had a nice draft day, but there is still plenty of work to be done.