Ahead of the NBA draft on Wednesday, one NBA executive considered UConn big man Donovan Clingan to be a “more attractive” prospect than Purdue’s Zach Edey, per ESPN’s Jeremy Woo.
“Clingan’s defensive range, his ability to cover ground, is more attractive in today’s NBA,” the executive said. “His ability to get up more and also recover is much better than Edey, and at a younger age. If you’re in the playoffs expecting [Clingan] to get out and contest shooters and get back into the play, I don’t see that happening. But he does have much better mobility and upside in that area, inside 15 feet.”
The two college stars come into the draft with a handful of similarities—mainly their size and abilities around the rim. Clingan stands at 7’2″ while Edey is 7’4″, making both players efficient in the paint on offense.
Clingan, a two-time national champion, averaged 13 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game in his final year with the Huskies. He faced off against Edey in the NCAA tournament title game and helped lead his team to a win over the Boilermakers behind 11 points and five rebounds.
Edey’s numbers look better on paper as the senior put up 25.2 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game last season, but as the NBA executive noted, Clingan’s mobility makes him a more enticing prospect.
Clingan also has the advantage of being just 20 years old while Edey is 22.
Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman projects the Charlotte Hornets to take Clingan with the No. 6 pick in the draft, noting that “teams will know exactly what they’re getting” from the center in his scouting report.
Wasserman projects the Los Angeles Lakers to draft Edey with the No. 16 pick. In his scouting report, Wasserman said Edey likely won’t go earlier in the draft because “it’s easier to justify adding Edey for a second-unit role to start his career” rather than using a lottery pick on him.