2024 NBA Mock Draft: Donovan Clingan selected at No. 3, but traded by Rockets to Grizzlies

Written by on June 23, 2024

2024 NBA Mock Draft: Donovan Clingan selected at No. 3, but traded by Rockets to Grizzlies

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Zaccharie Risacher SF

France • 6’9″ / 204 lbs

Projected Team

Atlanta

PROSPECT RNK

2nd

POSITION RNK

1st

PPG

11.1

RPG

4

APG

0.9

3P%

38.7%

We said last week that Atlanta was trending away from Sarr and now that has become the assumption of most. Risacher and Clingan look like the options right now, although a trade is still a possibility. Risacher gives them a budding big wing with a 3-and-D archetype.

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Alex Sarr C

France • 7’1″ / 217 lbs

Projected Team

Washington

PROSPECT RNK

1st

POSITION RNK

1st

PPG

9.6

RPG

4.5

APG

1

BPG

1.5

We’ve been ahead of this one too, predicting for weeks that Sarr wouldn’t drop out of the top two and that Washinton would jump all over the defensive seven-footer if Atlanta passed on him. Right now, that appears to be how this might play out.

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Connecticut • Soph • 7’2″ / 280 lbs

Projected Team

Memphis

PROSPECT RNK

4th

POSITION RNK

2nd

PPG

13

RPG

7.4

APG

1.5

BPG

2.5

Here’s where it gets fun. I’m now projecting Clingan to be a top three pick, but never actually play for the Rockets, where they already have Alperen Sengun. Look for Memphis and to a lesser extent, Chicago, to both be possibilities here. If Houston keeps the pick, Sheppard is the most likely candidate.

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Kentucky • Fr • 6’3″ / 181 lbs

Projected Team

San Antonio

PROSPECT RNK

3rd

POSITION RNK

1st

PPG

12.5

RPG

4.1

APG

4.5

3P%

52.1%

Risacher, Sheppard and Castle are the players that San Antonio is believed to be most interested in if it stays at No. 4. If the Spurs have to pick between Sheppard and Castle, shooting could very well be the variable that pushes this decision in Sheppard’s favor.

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Matas Buzelis SF

G League Ignite • 6’8″ / 209 lbs

Projected Team

Detroit

PROSPECT RNK

9th

POSITION RNK

2nd

PPG

14.4

RPG

6.9

APG

2

3P%

27.3%

Detroit’s decision to fire Monty Williams despite the $65 million dollars left on his contract illustrates the potential for unexpected decisions. We don’t know what Trajan Langdon will do quarterbacking his first draft but Buzelis seems to be the player who fits the best.

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Connecticut • Fr • 6’6″ / 210 lbs

Projected Team

Charlotte

PROSPECT RNK

5th

POSITION RNK

1st

PPG

11.1

RPG

4.7

APG

2.9

3P%

26.7%

If Memphis or Chicago can’t make a deal with Houston, it’ll move on to Charlotte, if Clingan is still on the board. If not, Castle makes a lot of sense providing a defensive standout between LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller.

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Colorado • Fr • 6’7″ / 178 lbs

Projected Team

Portland

PROSPECT RNK

11th

POSITION RNK

3rd

PPG

11.9

RPG

3

APG

1.6

3P%

41.5%

The Trail Blazers have swung big in the last two drafts with Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson. Williams would be another similar high upside proposition, as one of the more notable high-risk/high-reward prospects in this draft. If no one deals for Clingan though, he won’t drop farther than this.

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Tennessee • Sr • 6’6″ / 213 lbs

Projected Team

San Antonio

PROSPECT RNK

6th

POSITION RNK

2nd

PPG

21.7

RPG

4.9

APG

1.8

3P%

39.7%

Wemby must be surrounded by spacing and an incoming backcourt of Sheppard and Knecht would do that in a big way. Knecht is one of the most NBA-ready perimeter scorers in the field, but needs to keep making strides defensively.

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Tidjane Salaun SF

France • 6’9″ / 212 lbs

Projected Team

Memphis

PROSPECT RNK

15th

POSITION RNK

4th

PPG

9.7

RPG

3.9

APG

0.9

3P%

31.6%

There’s a chance the Spurs take him at No. 8. If not, and if Houston ends up with this pick, he could give them just the type of physical specimen up front that they don’t yet have among their young assets.

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Providence • Jr • 6’3″ / 195 lbs

Projected Team

Utah

PROSPECT RNK

12th

POSITION RNK

4th

PPG

19.7

RPG

8.7

APG

3.6

3P%

37.7%

It was ten years ago that Danny Ainge drafted Marcus Smart. Devin Carter is a similar archetype as an elite competitor and strong defender with on/off ball versatility offensively, albeit in a somewhat high-volume style. He also measured as one of the best athletes in the combine.

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Duke • Fr • 6’2″ / 203 lbs

Projected Team

Chicago

PROSPECT RNK

14th

POSITION RNK

6th

PPG

14.3

RPG

5

APG

1.9

3P%

41.4%

The addition of Josh Giddey means that if Chicago is going to add to their perimeter, it will not be with a nonshooter. McCain would seem to fit well alongside Giddey and Coby White, presumably enabling the Bulls to move off of Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan. A big man, like Zach Edey, is a real possibility here too.

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Nikola Topic PG

Serbia • 6’6″ / 201 lbs

PPG

14.5

RPG

3.2

APG

5.5

3P%

30.6%

With Giddey now gone, adding another big playmaking guard who can consistently get a piece of the paint and create for others seems to make sense for the Thunder, even if they end up having to wait a year to get him on the floor because of the ACL injury.

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Ron Holland SF

G League Ignite • 6’7″ / 197 lbs

Projected Team

Sacramento

PROSPECT RNK

10th

POSITION RNK

3rd

PPG

20.6

RPG

6.6

APG

3

3P%

24.0%

With Malik Monk signing a new deal, Sacramento has less need of another guard and could instead target a defensive-oriented wing like Holland, who would be real value here and be a nice long-term fit alongside Keegan Murray.

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Purdue • Sr • 7’4″ / 299 lbs

Projected Team

Portland

PROSPECT RNK

23rd

POSITION RNK

5th

PPG

25.2

RPG

12.2

APG

2

BPG

2.2

Edey is getting increasingly lottery buzz leading up to the draft and if Portland goes with Williams or another backcourt player at No. 7, this makes sense if the Trail Blazers are committed to being a drop-coverage team on the defensive end of the floor.

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Kentucky • Fr • 6’1″ / 165 lbs

Projected Team

Miami

PROSPECT RNK

7th

POSITION RNK

2nd

PPG

15.2

RPG

2.9

APG

3.9

3P%

44.4%

McCain, Walter, Carrington and Dillingham are expected to be options here as the Heati may target the most talented perimeter player available. Dillingham is a dynamic offensive talent and could really benefit from Miami’s culture.

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Colorado • Sr • 6’8″ / 217 lbs

Projected Team

Philadelphia

PROSPECT RNK

24th

POSITION RNK

6th

PPG

16

RPG

5.1

APG

2.4

3P%

39.5%

Da Silva is a ultra-solid plug-and-play wing who could give them some needed wing depth and additional floor spacing around Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid. A backup point guard is also a possibility here.

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Baylor • Fr • 6’11” / 229 lbs

Projected Team

L.A. Lakers

PROSPECT RNK

19th

POSITION RNK

4th

PPG

10.7

RPG

5.6

APG

0.4

BPG

1.5

Missi is an athletic big who protects the rim, runs and spaces the floor vertically as a lob threat. While da Silva is expected to be an option if he’s on the board, Missi has a chance to be the Lakers center of the future.

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Pittsburgh • Fr • 6’4″ / 195 lbs

Projected Team

Orlando

PROSPECT RNK

17th

POSITION RNK

7th

PPG

13.8

RPG

5.2

APG

4.1

3P%

32.2%

Carrington’s range sounds like it could be anywhere from No. 12-20, with OKC and Miami being potential destinations above this and little chance he slips beyond Cleveland. The late-blooming guard made huge strides this year at Pittsburgh.

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Miami (Fla.) • Fr • 6’7″ / 209 lbs

Projected Team

Toronto

PROSPECT RNK

29th

POSITION RNK

7th

PPG

7.6

RPG

3

APG

2.2

3P%

40.8%

He’s not the athlete in the middle of the lineup that Masai Ujiri has historically coveted, but he’s a late-blooming big wing who shoots and reportedly had an excellent workout in Toronto shortly before getting a Green Room invite.

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Duke • Soph • 6’11” / 230 lbs

Projected Team

Cleveland

PROSPECT RNK

16th

POSITION RNK

3rd

PPG

16.4

RPG

8.3

APG

2.8

3P%

34.8%

Changes may be coming to the Cavs this summer and if they split up the twin towers of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, Filipowski could play alongside either one as a near-7-footer who can dribble, pass and shoot the basketball now.

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Indiana • Soph • 7’0″ / 230 lbs

Projected Team

New Orleans

PROSPECT RNK

27th

POSITION RNK

6th

PPG

15.9

RPG

9.9

APG

1.5

3P%

42.5%

The Pelicans need help at the 5 and yet have to be conscious of spacing implications around Zion. Ware is a high-risk high-reward type prospect, but he checks both of those boxes and may be worth the risk here.

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Baylor • Fr • 6’5″ / 197 lbs

Projected Team

Phoenix

PROSPECT RNK

18th

POSITION RNK

4th

PPG

14.5

RPG

4.4

APG

1.4

3P%

34.1%

If Phoenix keeps the pick, a more seasoned player capable of stepping right into the rotation like Tyler Kolek or Baylor Scheierman could make sense, but Walter is a 19-year-old with physical tools and two-way potential.

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Kansas • Fr • 6’8″ / 189 lbs

Projected Team

Milwaukee

PROSPECT RNK

25th

POSITION RNK

5th

PPG

9

RPG

4.9

APG

1

3P%

35.2%

With Giannis locked in long-term and the rest of the starting lineup in their 30’s, Furphy gives them an up-and-coming floor spacer to build out the next iteration of their supporting cast.

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Marquette • Sr • 6’2″ / 195 lbs

Projected Team

New York

PROSPECT RNK

26th

POSITION RNK

8th

PPG

15.3

RPG

4.9

APG

7.7

3P%

38.8%

It’s possible Kolek is off the board here, but if not, the Knicks are believed to be big believers in his IQ, pick-and-roll playmaking and overall mentality.

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Virginia • Soph • 6’6″ / 213 lbs

Projected Team

New York

PROSPECT RNK

22nd

POSITION RNK

5th

PPG

8.1

RPG

6.9

APG

0.8

3P%

20%

If the Knicks don’t look at a center here, Dunn fits coach Tom Thibodeau to a tee. He is a high-level athlete, was one of the best defenders in college basketball and even played his high school basketball in Long Island.

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USC • Fr • 6’3″ / 205 lbs

Projected Team

Washington

PROSPECT RNK

13th

POSITION RNK

5th

PPG

16.3

RPG

2.9

APG

4.3

3P%

33.8%

This would be a bit of a slide for Collier, but would end up in a good place as he would have a chance to show the Wizards he’s their point guard of the future amidst a young core that would now include Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly and Deni Avjija.

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Creighton • Sr • 6’7″ / 201 lbs

Projected Team

Minnesota

PROSPECT RNK

28th

POSITION RNK

6th

PPG

18.5

RPG

9

APG

3.9

3P%

38.1%

He could, and probably should, be off the board by here. If not, he makes a lot of sense for Minnesota given his ability to space the ball and make quick decisions in a supportive role, especially since he reportedly had a great workout for the Timberwolves.

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Dayton • Jr • 6’9″ / 235 lbs

Projected Team

Denver

PROSPECT RNK

20th

POSITION RNK

1st

PPG

20.4

RPG

8.5

APG

2.6

3P%

38.6%

Holmes is another one who could already be gone, but he’s not expected to slip past the Nuggets here. The athletic big man returned to Dayton for his junior year, made notable strides with his shooting and should now be in the first round as a result.

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Minnesota • Fr • 6’5″ / 190 lbs

Projected Team

Utah

PROSPECT RNK

40th

POSITION RNK

11th

PPG

11.3

RPG

3.6

APG

2.2

3P%

39.1%

George could be an intriguing high-upside proposition for Ainge if he’s still on the board, but Christie provides another young shooter to add to the floor-spacing alongside Carter and Keyonte George in the backcourt.

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Tyler Smith PF

G League Ignite • 6’9″ / 224 lbs

Projected Team

Boston

PROSPECT RNK

21st

POSITION RNK

2nd

PPG

13.4

RPG

5.1

APG

1.1

3P%

36.4%

Shooting is a requisite for the newly crowned NBA champs and with Al Horford now 38 years old and Kristaps Porzingis’ durability always in question, Smith gives them another shooting big, with underrated athleticism, to develop.

The post 2024 NBA Mock Draft: Donovan Clingan selected at No. 3, but traded by Rockets to Grizzlies first appeared on CBS Sports.


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