Thunder Draft Report: UConn's Donovan Clingan

The OKC Thunder will be right in range for Connecticut big man Donovan Clingan who could help round out their rotation.

Mar 16, 2024; New York City, NY, USA; Connecticut Huskies center Donovan Clingan (32) celebrates as / Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Despite battling for a top spot in the Western Conference, the OKC Thunder still have an absorbent amount of picks, including a projected lottery pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Let’s take a look at Donovan Clingan and how he would fit in the Thunder system.

Draft Profile 

• Height: 7'2
• Weight: 265
• Wingspan: N/A
• Age: 21
• School: UConn

Quick Scouting Report

Clingan has played a big role in the success of UConn over the past two seasons, helping lift the Huskies to a National Championship last season and poised for another deep run this year.

The sophomore big man is averaging 12 points, seven rebounds, an assist and 2.7 stocks per contest. While he does not threaten to be a floor spacer at the next level, a throwback big still presents a change of pace in the modern NBA.

Strengths and Weakness

Strengths

Clingan is a high-level shot-blocker that blends his ability to leap up and get shots and just using his length to wall up at the rim and deter drivers. His impact as the anchor of a defense can transform an NBA team.

To couple with his shot-blocking, Clingan is a stellar rebounder, using his size to box out and gain positioning that sometimes benefits his teammates more than him even. Collecting rebounds on both ends helps the Huskies flip games in a hurry.

Clingan is a fantastic paint finisher from put backs, to using him as a roller, in the dunker spot or just bouncing block to block. The Huskie big man an be used as a lob threat and an easy weapon in baseline out of bound plays.

He has improved at running the floor in transition as the season has gone on, getting through the lane before the defense can get set with his guards spoon feeding him easy buckets.

Weaknesses

Cligan is going to have to explode harder under the rim. With just 36 dunks, his soft touch around the rim might take a step back at the NBA level as the competition level increases. In addition, he has to take on contact better at the rim.

While he is an anchor on defense making his money around the rim, when you need to hedge or switch on screens, there is concerns Clingan can be the man for the job. That limits him on that end of the floor against some of the prolific scorers in the NBA especially as the games that matter most become so pick-and-roll heavy.

There is little to no hope that Clingan will become a quality 3-point shooter from the data we have now. His poor free throw percentage, and the fact he has only attempted 11 jump shots (hitting three of them). Between the lack of confidence and slow release, it would be eye-popping to see Clingan develop an outside stroke at the next level.

Availability

• Draft Digest:
• Ringer Guide: 15
• ESPN Mock: 11
• The Athletic: 18
• Bleacher Report: 11
• CBS: 11
• Draft Net: 42
• Tankathon: 12

Thunder Fit

Future Role 

Clingan can develop into a starting big man at the NBA level and hitting the ground running with the same level of success Walker Kessler has earned early on would not be surprising. While Clingan will never be a star he could eventually be a starter on a high-quality team as a defense-anchoring rim-runner.

Rotation Fit 

The only true value Clingan would have for Oklahoma City is to provide them with another tool in their tool box. While he does not fit their typical style of play, there might be some matchups where you need to pivot. Though, that is not something you typically concern yourself with at the top of drafts.

If the Thunder did select Clingan, it would be in a sparing role against dueling big lineups or when the team needs a spark on the glass or inside.

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