Raptors Add Elite Defensive Big & Two Wings in Latest Mock Draft

The Toronto Raptors are projected to take Donovan Clingan, Terrence Shannon Jr., and Jaylon Tyson in the latest NBA Mock Draft

Apr 8, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Connecticut Huskies center Donovan Clingan (32) celebrates defeating / Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Without Jakob Poeltl, it’s been ugly.

It’s not that Poeltl is some superstar center for the Toronto Raptors. Frankly, he’s quite middling when it comes to starting centers in the NBA. But without him, Toronto has been a disaster this season, going 4-26 over the 30 games the Raptors have played without the 7-foot Austrian.

The addition of Kelly Olynyk has given the organization some center depth behind Poeltl, but maybe it’s time to add someone a little younger.

Enter Donovan Clingan, the 7-foot-2 center out of UConn projected to be taken by the Raptors at No. 6 in Bleacher Report’s latest 2024 NBA mock draft.

Clingan is the top-ranked collegiate center in this year’s draft and it’s not hard to see why. He helped lead the Huskies to back-to-back national championships and was the key defensive cog for UConn’s paint defense the past year.

The 20-year-old sophomore is more of an old-school center who is at his best defending and scoring in the paint. He’s mobile enough to defend the pick-and-roll in drop coverage but isn’t quick enough to switch onto the perimeter. His 7-foot-7 wingspan and 280-pound weight should give him the kind of size to compete with even the NBA’s biggest bigs and allowed him to average 2.5 blocks per game this past year.

Offensively, Clingan is a good passer who sets strong screens and is essentially automatic near the hoop. He shot 63.9% from the floor this past season, working primarily in the dunker’s spot or as the roll man in the pick-and-roll. Anything outside of point-blank range is a bit more of a question for Clingan who attempted just nine three-pointers in college and shot just 58.3% from the free throw line this year.

Adding Clingan would give the Raptors a little bit more defensive-minded depth behind Poeltl and the kind of young developmental big the organization is currently lacking. While he’s not a great long-term fit for Toronto alongside Poeltl, the Austrian center could help mentor the Connecticut native for a couple of years before the Raptors could look to split up the duo down the road.

No. 17: Terrence Shannon Jr. (Illinois)

Terrence Shannon Jr. is the type of wing Toronto could desperately use these days.

A 6-foot-6 fifth-year senior, Shannon showed the kind of two-way play that really impresses scouts. He averaged 23 points per game for Illinois this past year while shooting 47.5% from the floor and 36.2% from behind the arc.

Shannon was an impressive defender early in his collegiate career who would probably benefit on that end from having a lighter offensive workload to carry. At his best, he has the versatility and tenacity to be a tough on-ball defender who can be a difference-maker off the ball.

His age is going to turn off some teams, but Toronto hasn’t been afraid of older prospects in the past. The organization will, however, need to do its due diligence into allegations of rape made against Shannon that sidelined him earlier this season. He’s set to have a hearing in the case on May 10.

No. 31: Jaylon Tyson (California)

Speaking of wing depth, Jaylon Tyson would give Toronto a little more positional versatility and wing creativity early in the second round.

The 21-year-old junior was probably asked to do a little too much on a mediocre California team this year, but still managed to average 19.6 points while shooting 46.5% from the floor. While he did show some offensive on-ball skills, the 6-foot-7 Tyson struggled with turnovers troubles that overshadowed his playmaking chops.

His size should allow him to be a solid defender who can defend across multiple wing positions. His defensive impact should only improve with a more tertiary offensive role in the NBA.