Despite the 2024 NBA Draft being widely considered a “weak” class compared to recent years, it appears the Memphis Grizzlies may have found a particular prospect they’re rather keen on.
As has been the case since the mid-season departures of both Steven Adams and Xavier Tillman back in February, many have pegged the center position as an area the franchise will likely be looking to address this offseason.
GM Zach Kleiman even went as far as to hint at it being one of the front office’s biggest agendas heading into the summer, noting at his exit interview “we see the value of having a more traditional or true big.”
Considering they are heading into the 2024-25 campaign attached to the eighth-highest payroll in the entire association, a consensus belief is that the most logical and cost-efficient way for them to bring on some much-needed new talents to bolster their pivot position is to poach them up during June’s festivities, and, per Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo of ESPN, the Grizzlies are one of several teams interested in trading up to nab UConn big Donovan Clingan.
Grizzlies interested in trading up for UConn center Donovan Clingan
According the the report, the 20-year-old has proven to be quite impressive during his private workouts, with Givony and Woo noting in their piece that perimeter shooting, in particular, has caught the attention of NBA front offices.
Clingan is a player who has regularly been linked as being a possible target for the Grizzlies, with some labeling him as an ideal fit for their rotation considering his size (7-foot-2, 282 pounds) and inside-out skill set.
The Huskies standout heads into the 2024 draft fresh off his second consecutive NCAA Championship, as he helped guide UConn to the promised land while wrapping up his sophomore season with impressive averages of 13.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 2.5 blocks per game while shooting 63.9 percent from the floor.
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