RealGM

Donovan Clingan has positioned himself to be a top prospect in the 2024 NBA Draft. Despite that status, Clingan could slip in the draft, because several teams with top picks already have centers in place.

If Clingan starts to slide, a handful of teams are positioned to try to trade up to select him. The Chicago Bulls, Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder and Utah Jazz could all move up from their later-lottery picks to get in range to draft Clingan. The floor for the UConn center is considered to be the Portland Trail Blazers, who hold the seventh overall pick.

Clingan measured at 7-foot-3 with a 7-foot-7 wingspan and a 9-foot-7 standing reach at the Draft Combine. He's considered an outstanding defender, and he has nice touch on his jumper too. Many scouts envision Clingan eventually becoming an all-around offensive threat, who can also protect the rim, similar to a later-career Brook Lopez.

Via Jonathan Givony/ESPN

I can’t tell if teams at the top of the draft are putting these stories out to justify not trading down or if teams at the bottom are doing it to explain why they weren’t able to trade up.

Didnt we all watch zach edey put 37 on him?? Clingan isnt close to being a switch defender so wats with the hype?? Like what am i missing??

Irabrahamt wrote:Didnt we all watch zach edey put 37 on him?? Clingan isnt close to being a switch defender so wats with the hype?? Like what am i missing??

I'm wondering the same. Maybe it's a smoke screen to get someone else.

Somebody’s trying to trade their pick… my guess is Rockets.

Irabrahamt wrote:Didnt we all watch zach edey put 37 on him?? Clingan isnt close to being a switch defender so wats with the hype?? Like what am i missing??

I thought it was just me. For the life of me I don't know what people are seeing. Forget what Edey did to him, I just don't see what people are seeing. He looks like a prime bust candidate because nothing stands out about him that warrants consideration where people have him slotted to go.

This will be one of the easiest "I saw it coming" bust picks if he goes high in the draft and just looks average.

AWIZZINGBULLET wrote:

Irabrahamt wrote:Didnt we all watch zach edey put 37 on him?? Clingan isnt close to being a switch defender so wats with the hype?? Like what am i missing??

I thought it was just me. For the life of me I don't know what people are seeing. Forget what Edey did to him, I just don't see what people are seeing. He looks like a prime bust candidate because nothing stands out about him that warrants consideration where people have him slotted to go.

This will be one of the easiest "I saw it coming" bust picks if he goes high in the draft and just looks average.

It's a mediocre(at best) draft and none of the guys is a can't miss prospect. Clingan is huge, athletic, plays defense, sets great picks, can pass a little...and scouts apparently think his shooting mechanics are solid and he can extend his range. Elite roleplayer is probably his ceiling, but that actually might be as good as you can get in the middle of the lottery this year.

FeatheryTouch wrote:

AWIZZINGBULLET wrote:

Irabrahamt wrote:Didnt we all watch zach edey put 37 on him?? Clingan isnt close to being a switch defender so wats with the hype?? Like what am i missing??

I thought it was just me. For the life of me I don't know what people are seeing. Forget what Edey did to him, I just don't see what people are seeing. He looks like a prime bust candidate because nothing stands out about him that warrants consideration where people have him slotted to go.

This will be one of the easiest "I saw it coming" bust picks if he goes high in the draft and just looks average.

It's a mediocre(at best) draft and none of the guys is a can't miss prospect. Clingan is huge, athletic, plays defense, sets great picks, can pass a little...and scouts apparently think his shooting mechanics are solid and he can extend his range. Elite roleplayer is probably his ceiling, but that actually might be as good as you can get in the middle of the lottery this year.

Dude doesn't look athletic from what I see. Makes me skeptical of the other attributes you name, but at least now I have areas to zero-in on when rewatching his clips.

I'd much rather take a chance on Zach Edey with my team's second overall pick than Clingan at the moment.

Speaking of Edey, where the heck was Clingan's defense when going head-up with him?

Cassius wrote:I can’t tell if teams at the top of the draft are putting these stories out to justify not trading down or if teams at the bottom are doing it to explain why they weren’t able to trade up.

Not saying it justifies it, but he was dominant in the Final Four game against Alabama. Made me take a second look.

AWIZZINGBULLET wrote:

FeatheryTouch wrote:

AWIZZINGBULLET wrote:
I thought it was just me. For the life of me I don't know what people are seeing. Forget what Edey did to him, I just don't see what people are seeing. He looks like a prime bust candidate because nothing stands out about him that warrants consideration where people have him slotted to go.

This will be one of the easiest "I saw it coming" bust picks if he goes high in the draft and just looks average.

It's a mediocre(at best) draft and none of the guys is a can't miss prospect. Clingan is huge, athletic, plays defense, sets great picks, can pass a little...and scouts apparently think his shooting mechanics are solid and he can extend his range. Elite roleplayer is probably his ceiling, but that actually might be as good as you can get in the middle of the lottery this year.

Dude doesn't look athletic from what I see. Makes me skeptical of the other attributes you name, but at least now I have areas to zero-in on when rewatching his clips.

I'd much rather take a chance on Zach Edey with my team's second overall pick than Clingan at the moment.

Speaking of Edey, where the heck was Clingan's defense when going head-up with him?

I'm not claiming Clingan is going to be great or anything, I'm neutral on the guy. I was just listing some of the the reasons why draft evaluators say he'll be a lottery selection.

I didn't watch the Clingan vs. Edey game, but listening to analysts reference it I believe they said Clingan was in foul trouble in the 1st half when Edey scored most of his points and Clingan actually played pretty good defense on Edey in the 2nd half where Edey's output declined significantly.

All that said I agree with you that Edey is probably being undervalued - he's a monster around the hoop -but the questions about his lack of footspeed/mobility and inability to space the floor in the NBA are valid concerns.