NBA Rumors: Donovan Clingan Linked to Bulls, Thunder, More as Draft Trade-Up Option

As a potential immediate contributor in the NBA, Connecticut star Donovan Clingan is being connected to several teams leading up to the 2024 draft.

According to ESPN's Jonathan Givony, the Chicago Bulls, Oklahoma City Thunder, Memphis Grizzlies and Utah Jazz are all teams that have discussed Clingan and could explore trade-up options in the first round to select him.

B/R's Jonathan Wasserman projected Clingan to go sixth overall to the Charlotte Hornets in his most recent mock, but he has had him as high as No. 3.

There has been some buzz that Clingan is in the mix for the Atlanta Hawks with the No. 1 overall pick. The Athletic's Sam Vecenie noted in his mock draft that posted on Wednesday that Atlanta is doing "due diligence" on the Huskies big man.

Vecenie also wrote that the current draft order means Clingan is an option for the top three spots before his "range goes dark" for the teams picking from four to six because they already have promising young bigs.

That group includes the San Antonio Spurs (No. 4), Detroit Pistons (No. 5) and Charlotte Hornets (No. 6). The Blazers would seem to be in prime position to make a trade up because they own two of the top 14 picks, including No. 7 overall.

The Grizzlies, Jazz, Bulls and Thunder are all bunched together from picks nine through 12. From this group, Utah and Oklahoma City have the most future draft capital to offer in a potential trade.

The Jazz own unprotected first-round picks from the Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves in 2025 and 2027. They also have an unprotected pick from Cleveland in 2029, while Minnesota's pick that year is top-five protected.

The Thunder could have as many as 14 first-round picks from 2025 to 2030.

Clingan won back-to-back national titles in each of his two seasons at Connecticut. He came off the bench as a freshman before moving into the starting lineup as a sophomore. The 20-year-old averaged 13.0 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game in 35 appearances last season.