Sports
NBA Draft 2024 Rumors: Hawks Had Talks About Trade Down; Donovan Clingan Linked – Bleacher Report
The Atlanta Hawks have reportedly discussed trading down from the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft with other teams, according to The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor.
O’Connor noted that the Hawks may just be “exploring their options” and haven’t yet worked out all of the prospects that they’re considering selecting with the top draft choice. One possible trade-down target could be UConn center Donovan Clingan, who impressed Atlanta’s front office during a recent private workout.
Clingan was a key piece for the Huskies during their consecutive national title victories over the past two seasons, coming off the bench in 2023 before emerging as a starter and anchoring head coach Dan Hurley’s defense in 2024.
In his sophomore campaign, the 20-year-old averaged 13.0 points and 7.4 rebounds to go along with 2.5 blocks per game. At 7’2″ with a wingspan of just under 7’7″, his size should allow him to make an immediate impact at the professional level.
However, he’ll likely remain on the board after the first few names are called on draft night and may slip out of the top five entirely. In the latest mock draft from Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman, Clingan fell to the No. 7 overall pick.
In Wasserman’s scouting report of the UConn center, he highlighted the two-time national champion’s defensive impact.
“The idea that Clingan could help change a team’s defensive identity could sway teams to consider him before bigger projects with more versatility or perceived higher ceilings,” he wrote.
The ability to potentially transform a defense could entice Hawks general manager Landry Fields, as Atlanta finished the regular season with the fourth-worst defensive rating in the association (via NBA.com).
If Fields decides to heavily pursue Clingan, conversations about trading down with other teams should ramp up ahead of the draft on June 26.
