Despite coming into 2023-24 with rather lofty expectations, the Memphis Grizzlies wrapped up their campaign playoff-less for the first time in four years and claimed the seventh-worst record in the entire association at 27-55.
Though such a run was far from desirable, what keeps the franchise and their faithful followers upbeat is the fact that not only do they understand their struggles were primarily related to injuries, but they now hold the rights to the ninth overall selection in the upcoming NBA Draft as a result, with which they could add on another promising young piece to their youth-filled collection.
Of course, when it comes to how Zach Kleiman and company will look to utilize their lottery pick, there are many different outcomes that could come about.
As is always the case with drafting, a team's decision-making will always be scrutinized by both fans and pundits alike.
In some cases, they are praised for landing their dream target. Other times, they're ridiculed for reaching. And, on some occasions, the public reaction seems to be non-existent, as things seemed to have turned out as many had projected.
With this in mind, today we'll be pinpointing one specific target who could spark each of these aforementioned responses.
Dream Grizzlies draft target: Donovan Clingan
For months now, Donovan Clingan has been viewed by many as a great fit for this Memphis Grizzlies team, and it's rather easy to see why.
From his 7-foot-2, 282-pound frame to his two-way skill set on the hardwood, the 20-year-old boasts a profile that could stand to make him an ideal replacement for the departed Steven Adams as the ball club's center of the future.
DONOVAN CLINGAN IS BALLING 😳#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/Ffj9fV2ElI
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 7, 2024
Clingan finished his sophomore campaign with the Huskies averaging 13.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 2.5 blocks per game while shooting 63.9 percent from the floor, and capped things off by helping guide the team to their second-straight NCAA Championship.
As he showcased during his collegiate career, the big man is someone who prioritizes setting hard screens, rolling off the pick, and getting tough down in the post on the offensive end while also serving as an excellent rim protector, drop coverage defender, and second-chance eliminator when on the less glamorous side of the floor.
In other words, everything the Grizzlies could use at the pivot.
On top of all this, it is being reported that his long-range shooting has been a standout attribute during his pre-draft workouts, thus making his value as a prospect rise even higher ahead of June 26 which, in turn, makes it more and more difficult to believe that he'll still be on the board once the Grizzlies are up at pick number nine.