NBA Draft 2024 Rumors: Bulls, Grizzlies Want to Trade Up for UConn's Donovan Clingan

The Chicago Bulls and Memphis Grizzlies reportedly are "making significant attempts" to trade up in the 2024 NBA Draft in pursuit of former UConn center Donovan Clingan, according to 247Sports' Adam Finkelstein.

"There are a couple of teams that are being very active trying to trade up to draft the UConn big man," Finkelstein said on 247Sports' college basketball show. "Memphis and Chicago, in particular, I am hearing are making significant attempts to move up to a position where they could draft Clingan."

The Houston Rockets and Charlotte Hornets hold the No. 3 and No. 6 picks, respectively, and could be potential trade partners for the Grizzlies or Bulls, Finkelstein reported.

The report that the Rockets are listening to trade offers echoes Jonathan Wasserman, who wrote that "rival teams say No. 3 is for sale" in his latest mock draft for Bleacher Report.

"There isn't much room on the Houston Rockets' roster for another young project, and the team plans to exit the rebuilding stage for a run up the standings," Wasserman wrote last week. "Adding another veteran or even a future pick in a perceived better draft may sound more appealing to Houston than No. 3 in 2024."

A potential trade could sound even more appealing considering the Rockets' center depth, which could be further cemented if the team offers Alperen Şengün an extension this summer.

The Hornets and Spurs boast similar big man depth, Finkelstein noted. The Hornets have already exercised their club option to keep Mark Williams in Charlotte next fall, and the Spurs have 2023 No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama on his rookie contract for at least three more seasons.

If this center depth means Clingan falls out of the top six, the Portland Trail Blazers would be likely to snag the former UConn center at No. 7, Finkelstein said.

Clingan cemented his position as a first-round draft pick by helping UConn to the program's second consecutive title this spring with 2.5 blocks per game, good for eighth among all men's college basketball players.

Joe Cowley reported for the Chicago Sun-Times that Bulls backup center Andre Drummond will be "looking for a new team" this summer, so Chicago will need a new big to play behind Nikola Vučević. The Grizzlies meanwhile traded an injured Steven Adams to the Rockets in the middle of last season and are looking for another center to play alongside Jaren Jackson Jr. as they hope to contend for a title.

If either team decides Clingan is the answer to padding their backcourt depth and makes a deal with the Rockets, they still wouldn't be guaranteed the chance to draft the former UConn center. Finkelstein reported that Clingan is also considered "an option" for the Atlanta Hawks and Washington Wizards with the top two picks of the draft.