“Situational Evaluation” is a collection of articles that seeks to look at the circumstances that almost all usually affect an NBA prospect’s success. Every participant will likely be scored on a scale from 1-10 in 4 completely different classes: NBA-specific talent(s), deadly flaw(s), collegiate/abroad/pre-NBA setting, and supreme NBA ecosystem.
Donovan Clingan is a 20-year-old heart from Bristol, Connecticut, who averaged 13 factors, 7.4 rebounds, and a couple of.5 blocks for the nationwide champion Connecticut Huskies. He’s anticipated to be chosen within the lottery on this yr’s draft. NBADraft.internet presently has him projected at No. 13.
NBA-Particular Abilities
Donovan Clingan is huge. Big, even. So long as the rim sits 10 ft above the bottom, people with Clingan’s dimension will present critical worth on a basketball courtroom.
Standing 7-3 in sneakers with a standing attain 3 inches shorter than the rim, Clingan blocks out the solar. Solely probably the most artistic finishers can discover methods to get the ball close to the ring when Clingan is anchoring a protection.
He isn’t only a huge physique, both. Clingan has significantly better ft than you’ll count on and his defensive instincts are extraordinarily superior for a participant his age. He is aware of methods to finest place his huge body each as a rim protector and as a assist defender on pick-and-rolls.
He averages a blocked shot for each 9 or so minutes of courtroom time, which doesn’t take into consideration the variety of photographs that don’t even get tried as a result of he’s within the space. At 280-290 kilos, he already possesses the stable base to carry his floor in opposition to even probably the most brutish submit scorers.
Whereas most of his worth/upside is derived on the defensive finish, Clingan is a stable offensive participant, as properly, exhibiting good contact across the hoop and even making some slick passes out of the submit. He isn’t a pick-and-pop risk, however he can punish mismatches within the submit and can at all times be a risk on the offensive glass and with tip-ins.
He’ll by no means be a No. 1 offensive possibility, however Clingan has the potential to be a game-changing defensive drive in the suitable system with the suitable teammates.
On a scale from 1-10, Clingan’s skills as a defensive anchor is a 9.
Deadly Flaws
The NBA is a completely completely different beast. The perfect gamers and coaches decide at each little weak point till it turns into untenable. Whereas Clingan has nimble sufficient ft to defend excessive screens in school, will probably be a wholly completely different problem in opposition to the quickest skilled ball handlers.
NBA offenses will check Clingan early and sometimes within the excessive display. It’s doubtless that Clingan’s worth will likely be maximized in a staff that performs a drop protection scheme – consider how the Milwaukee Bucks use Brook Lopez – however the perfect defensive gamers can play a wide range of kinds. If Clingan can’t credibly present on excessive screens or deal with himself in opposition to small-ball configurations, his defensive affect will likely be minimized.
It’s additionally unclear whether or not Clingan can present something past second-chance factors, given his restricted taking pictures vary. Lopez and Marc Gasol had been finally ready so as to add correct 3-point taking pictures on excessive quantity to increase their careers. Clingan gained’t present that dimension fairly but. His sub-60% foul taking pictures makes it appear as if that dimension is perhaps out of attain.
He has additionally but to play critical starter-level minutes, so it’s unclear whether or not he has the stamina to take care of his effectivity over 30+ minutes per recreation.
On a scale from 1 (not a priority) to 10 (critical hindrance), Clingan’s lateral quickness and restricted taking pictures vary charges at an 8.5
Pre-NBA Setting
Clingan was a completely sensational highschool participant for Bristol Central Excessive Faculty, simply down the highway from the ESPN studios in Connecticut. He posted outrageous stats his final two years en path to back-to-back state Participant of the 12 months awards. He elected to remain near residence and play for coach Dan Hurley and the Huskies.
He emerged as a defensive difference-maker in restricted minutes his freshman yr (1.8 blocks in 13.1 minutes per recreation) and made important contributions to UConn’s 2023 title run. He assumed the beginning heart job as a sophomore and anchored UConn’s protection throughout a dominant title protection in 2024.
He wasn’t requested to do something apart from precisely what he excels at, however two NCAA titles in two seasons is hard to high.
On a scale from 1-10, Clingan’s pre-NBA profession charges at a 9 – could be even greater if he had performed extra minutes for the Huskies.
Supreme NBA Ecosystem
Clingan’s draft profile is terribly just like Walker Kessler’s, who has emerged as an actual defensive stalwart for the Utah Jazz. Utilizing our +7.5 draft projection math, Kessler went No. 22, so Clingan might see his title known as towards the very finish of the lottery.
Nevertheless, I’m of the idea that Clingan’s draft place might exceed even these expectations, as he has a singular, easy-to-identify elite skillset that many groups within the lottery desperately want. Since almost each prospect on this draft is a roll-of-the-dice in at the least some respect, a staff with a gap at heart might search to fill it with Clingan.
Clingan-watch begins at No. 7 with Portland, who may not be 100% offered on the domin-Ayton expertise, or with Robert Williams’ well being document. Clingan would offer a completely completely different dimension to a defensively challenged Blazers squad as their promising younger guards study the ins and outs of NBA protection.
There may be additionally an opportunity that Memphis seems to be his method at No. 9, as Steven Adams’ well being is up within the air. I really like the thought of pairing Clingan with Jaren Jackson – every participant enhances the opposite one fairly properly.
Oklahoma Metropolis might additionally look in his route at No. 12. Whereas he doesn’t match the Sam Presti mildew of mobility/playmaking, he might present a much-needed dose of physicality in a 15-minutes-per-game position behind Chet Holmgren. Clingan might even share the ground with Holmgren in sure matchups.
On a scale from 1-10, Clingan’s situational dependence is an 8. Clingan has an outlined NBA position and comes from a profitable background, however he wants the suitable coach/defensive philosophy to maximise his skillset.
