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ESPNHow Clingan and Edey's big game sets them apart
IT'S RARE THAT the viewing interests of fans and scouts ever completely align, but as circumstances would have it, last season's most-watched jump ball came at the outset of the men's national title game in Glendale, Arizona.
UConn's 7-foot-3 Donovan Clingan, anchoring a defense on its way to a historic average margin of victory (23.3 points) and a second straight title, and Purdue's 7-5 Zach Edey, the two-time national player of the year and college basketball's most dominant interior force, squared off at midcourt. The two centers, both viewed as fascinating pro prospects, had their final opportunity to leave an impression on NBA decision-makers on April 8 -- with a little more than two months to go before the 2024 draft.
Amid what has been regarded by NBA scouts and executives as a down year for draft talent, big men have been trending up boards. While NBA front offices evaluate talent and calibrate their decisions ahead of the draft, as many as eight centers could hear their names called in the first round, up from one true center in 2023.
CLINGAN HAS A chance to hear his name called within the first seven picks of the draft, following his emergence over the course of UConn's title run. The Huskies' two NCAA championships in two years were greatly aided by Clingan's defensive impact, which sometimes shows in the box score but often manifests more in the win column. He worked his way through minor injuries over the course of the season and found peak form when it mattered most in March, vaulting him into the draft's high lottery conversation.
UConn's staff used NBA players such as Minnesota's Rudy Gobert and Utah's Kessler as the blueprint defensively, but also expanded Clingan's role in its offense, giving him more opportunities to facilitate and score in addition to screening and rolling. Part of the long-term appeal with him for NBA scouts is not only his defense, but the room for growth on the other end, including potential to extend his range to the 3-point line.
UConn also placed a premium on patience with Clingan.
At 7-1¾ barefoot with a 7-6¾ wingspan and 9-7 standing reach, Clingan's physical comparisons in ESPN's scouting database include four-time NBA champion Shaquille O'Neal, as well as Gobert. Clingan's play in the NCAA tournament helped reframe his draft trajectory for scouts -- he was no longer just a potential long-term defensive anchor, but he flashed poise and skill potential on the offensive end. Clingan couples his physical presence with above-average footwork, coordination and timing for his size, which was striking by the time he'd regained his conditioning during the NCAA tournament.
The title-game matchup between Edey and Clingan largely lived up to the hype, with Edey getting the better of Clingan on some occasions in the post (Edey scored 37 points to Clingan's 11), but Clingan making a broader defensive impact in fewer minutes and wearing down his opponent. The differences in their respective usage, skill sets and contexts was evident, but both showed the mettle that makes them appealing at the next level.
"The No. 1 thing for us wasn't Clingan's defense on Zach, it was Clingan's defense in help," Painter said. "We thought he was a really good post defender, but also thought Zach would have that advantage. I thought Zach had more success in that game, but where Clingan does his work and where he's special is on the weak side coming over, helping out on drives, having that timing and the discipline to stay down. To be the second jumper, block or change shots."
From a size perspective, like Clingan, Edey's physical comparisons include O'Neal and Gobert (and also 7-4 Rockets center Boban Marjanovic) -- but he's taller and has a longer wingspan than all of them. In addition to his remarkable college production, his late-blooming trajectory has added a layer of intrigue for teams.
With the NBA's present moment defined to some extent by dominant bigs -- think Jokic and Joel Embiid trading MVP awards, and Victor Wembanyama's ascent just beginning -- there's value to be found in having size on the floor, running efficient offense through the post, and then effectively contending against it.
Clingan and Edey are coming around at the perfect time, with NBA front offices and coaching staffs being more open-minded to their utility. And while we might not be entering another era of 7-footers and post play -- shooting, pace and spacing are still the league's chief priorities -- the two tallest prospects in this draft class could wind up among its most impactful players in the long run.
While a wave of intriguing center prospects in a thin draft might not signal a stylistic sea of change for the NBA, teams are intrigued to see how Clingan and Edey fare after taking over the college game by drastically different means.
If nothing else, their careers will serve as a useful litmus test as to just how good a 7-footer has to be to stick in the NBA these days.
"I don't know if the big man is back, but I think Clingan and Edey were just dominant, and it stands out. In a deeper draft, maybe they each get picked 5-to-10 slots later," one general manager told ESPN. "But it's an interesting comparison, the two best bigs in college basketball -- they're just very different. But they both play hard. They're going to give it their all, they compete, they're physical, can't deny that."
Nope. He's owed 2yrs/$34 and $35 mil. He definitely doesn't have the Hawks DNA.
