Donovan Clingan

The-Power · Post #1 » by **The-Power** » Tue Mar 28, 2023 2:33 am

Still very quiet around him, so I wanted to get feedback from the community. I have Clingan as a fringe FRP/early SRP at this point but he could rise if he comes back for a Sophomore year (which I would expect) and stays as productive with more minutes and opportunities. What is your take on him? Genuine NBA prospect or just a productive college player?

Here are his numbers per 100 possessions compared to Walker Kessler (both seasons combined) and Zach Edey (Freshman season), two other recent/current prospects with special size and some hype around them that are positionally locked and live in the paint on both ends.

Clingan: 31.2 PTS | 25.1 REB | 2.0 AST | 1.7 STL | 8.1 BLK || 4.7 TOV | 8.4 PF – 65.9 2P% | 52.3 FT% (.521 FTr) | 63.4 TS%
Kessler: 25.7 PTS | 18.3 REB | 1.9 AST | 2.6 STL | 9.0 BLK || 2.6 TOV | 6.1 PF – 67.1 2P% | 57.7 FT% (.363 FTr) | 61.5 TS%
Z. Edey: 35.5 PTS | 18.1 REB | 1.5 AST | 0.6 STL | 4.4 BLK || 5.6 TOV | 9.4 PF – 59.7 2P% | 71.4 FT% (.611 FTr) | 63.2 TS%

Clingan is the most dominant rebounder and the worst free throw shooter but besides that he is production-wise somewhere between Kessler and Edey virtually across the board. I think Kessler has been the best prospect coming out of college among the three (but needed a second year to really demonstrate that) due to his outstanding defense and currently shows out in the NBA. But where does that leave Clingan?

clyde21 · Post #2 » by **clyde21** » Tue Mar 28, 2023 2:50 am

i expect him to come back and have a bigger year, he and Karaban year 2 + UCONN gets Stephon Castle coming in, should be another good team and if Sanogo leaves it's all his to eat.

not sure about him as a prospect no, he's definitely closer to Edey than Kessler in terms of mobility, but more mobile than Edey for sure and a better rim protector.

ItsDanger · Post #3 » by **ItsDanger** » Tue Mar 28, 2023 3:07 pm

Like his potential a lot but needs improvement in FT, post game, reducing fouls, etc. If he declares, someone will reach for him. He's got the best size/mobility combination. Edey was doubled most of the time, sometimes tripled teamed, the other 2 only faced single coverage.

Hal14 · Post #4 » by **Hal14** » Tue Mar 28, 2023 9:34 pm

I don't see him declaring this year. Big man with no athleticism, no ball skills, can't switch defensively.

Just a guy who can catch the ball, turn and dunk on offense and a drop big on defense.

These types of guys don't get drafted in their 1st year of eligibility.

Let's see how he does next season at UConn.

EvanZ · Post #5 » by **EvanZ** » Tue Mar 28, 2023 10:35 pm

Wonder if he's kind of like Asik but bigger and slower.

Big J · Post #6 » by **Big J** » Tue Mar 28, 2023 10:57 pm

King Ken · Post #7 » by **King Ken** » Mon Apr 10, 2023 8:20 am

He has the potential to be a very rich man's Omer Asik with switchability like Asik. Could be a top 5 pick in next year's draft.

The Moose · Post #8 » by **The Moose** » Sat Mar 16, 2024 11:54 pm

firmly top 5 for me in this class

HadAnEffectHere · Post #9 » by **HadAnEffectHere** » Sun Mar 17, 2024 12:05 am

I wish he had lost a bunch of weight this year.

His mobility just isn't good enough and his post scoring doesn't make up for it.

We'll see what he looks like once he gets down to 245.

Also don't think any NBA player is viable at under 60% FT% at this point and maybe not at less than 65% FT% so he needs to improve there.

Chuck Everett · Post #10 » by **Chuck Everett** » Sun Mar 17, 2024 3:32 am

He's an elite rim protector. The Bulls at a minimum should select him if he's available at their pick.

King Ken · Post #11 » by **King Ken** » Sun Mar 17, 2024 7:02 am

I have to watch the playback but I heard he had his best game of the season against Marquette in the final. I can't wait to watch

Colbinii · Post #12 » by **Colbinii** » Sun Mar 17, 2024 4:44 pm

HadAnEffectHere wrote:I wish he had lost a bunch of weight this year.

His mobility just isn't good enough and his post scoring doesn't make up for it.

We'll see what he looks like once he gets down to 245.

Also don't think any NBA player is viable at under 60% FT% at this point and maybe not at less than 65% FT% so he needs to improve there.

Poeltl, Gobert, Nurkic, Gordon are all around 65% FT shooters and more than viable. Not only that, their main impact is similar to what Clingan projects (Defense).

BlazersBroncos · Post #13 » by **BlazersBroncos** » Sun Mar 17, 2024 4:50 pm

Colbinii wrote:
HadAnEffectHere wrote:I wish he had lost a bunch of weight this year.

His mobility just isn't good enough and his post scoring doesn't make up for it.

We'll see what he looks like once he gets down to 245.

Also don't think any NBA player is viable at under 60% FT% at this point and maybe not at less than 65% FT% so he needs to improve there.

Poeltl, Gobert, Nurkic, Gordon are all around 65% FT shooters and more than viable. Not only that, their main impact is similar to what Clingan projects (Defense).

Ya, I see him as a bigger Poeltl. Elite defender, surprisingly good passer, tough and reliable. He is a pretty safe bet IMHO.

HadAnEffectHere · Post #14 » by **HadAnEffectHere** » Sun Mar 17, 2024 7:37 pm

Colbinii wrote:
HadAnEffectHere wrote:I wish he had lost a bunch of weight this year.

His mobility just isn't good enough and his post scoring doesn't make up for it.

We'll see what he looks like once he gets down to 245.

Also don't think any NBA player is viable at under 60% FT% at this point and maybe not at less than 65% FT% so he needs to improve there.

Poeltl, Gobert, Nurkic, Gordon are all around 65% FT shooters and more than viable. Not only that, their main impact is similar to what Clingan projects (Defense).

I mean, Clingan is not at 65% is the issue right now.

Walker Kessler is in the middle of ruining his career due to lack of confidence because he's at 50% from the line and is afraid of getting fouled because of that.

hickfromfrenchlick · Post #15 » by **hickfromfrenchlick** » Sun Mar 17, 2024 9:40 pm

HadAnEffectHere wrote:I wish he had lost a bunch of weight this year.

His mobility just isn't good enough and his post scoring doesn't make up for it.

We'll see what he looks like once he gets down to 245.

Also don't think any NBA player is viable at under 60% FT% at this point and maybe not at less than 65% FT% so he needs to improve there.

He has improved. His form is quite good and the execution is way better than it was. Since 2/14 he’s 29 for 42 (69%) and he went 8 for 11 last night in the BET final. My perception is that he often back-rims the first and then corrects for the second. But like I said the form is nice and it’s always straight on. I think he’s easily a 70%+ FT shooter at the next level.

JMAC3 · Post #16 » by **JMAC3** » Mon Mar 18, 2024 7:41 pm

I don't dislike him but the ceiling for him seems sooooo low.
Feels like he is basically going to give you Zubac type of career which is tough to stomach anywhere inside the top 10 IMO.
I get a team taking him for need to give you a base level center moving forward but any team with a half way decent center is probably better off spending the pick elsewhere.

The-Power · Post #17 » by **The-Power** » Mon Mar 18, 2024 7:53 pm

JMAC3 wrote:Feels like he is basically going to give you Zubac type of career which is tough to stomach anywhere inside the top 10 IMO.

If you think he's bound to be Zubac 2.0 then he's a pretty easy top 10 pick. Zubac is at worst a top 12 player from his draft. If you're confident you'll get a player like him then that's surely worth a top 10 pick in a weak draft with a lottery crapshoot. (For the record, I don't see him having a Zubac-like career as a given and therefore don't have him as a top 10 pick).

JMAC3 · Post #18 » by **JMAC3** » Mon Mar 18, 2024 8:07 pm

The-Power wrote:
JMAC3 wrote:Feels like he is basically going to give you Zubac type of career which is tough to stomach anywhere inside the top 10 IMO.

If you think he's bound to be Zubac 2.0 then he's a pretty easy top 10 pick. Zubac is at worst a top 12 player from his draft. If you're confident you'll get a player like him then that's surely worth a top 10 pick in a weak draft with a lottery crapshoot. (For the record, I don't see him having a Zubac-like career as a given and therefore don't have him as a top 10 pick).

I think his most likely outcome is Zubac, but just like any player in the 7-14 range he has a 20% chance to be a bust. Typically in that range you also have a 15% or so to pick an Allstar, I just don't see that potential with Clingan.

BlazersBroncos · Post #19 » by **BlazersBroncos** » Mon Mar 18, 2024 8:35 pm

His passing is better than Zubac IMO - and I think he can have a rim protecting effect on a similar level to Hibbert (While being more mobile, less mechanical offensively and a better rebounder).

I see Poeltl with again a Hibbert level of close rim protection. Think for sure a Top-12 guy - but you just need to know what your getting (Which is a low usage 5th option type on offense with low upside on that side of the ball IMO).

tester551 · Post #20 » by **tester551** » Mon Mar 18, 2024 9:15 pm

Aside from being 18 months younger, what makes Clingan a better prospect than Edey?

Watching film on both players, I don't see much of a difference athletically between the two. Skill set wise, I think Edey is more developed.

Clingan will shoot the occasional 3, but I think Edey has that range. Edey has a higher FT%, which makes me more optimistic that he can help spread the floor a little better.