Although the Gonzaga Bulldogs have been one of the most successful college basketball programs over the course of this decade, they have not exactly pounded out lottery picks at the next level. This year, however, it is possible that both Rui Hachimura and Brandon Clarke could land in the lottery.
Gonzaga's star frontcourt duo helped to power the Bulldogs to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, as Hachimura averaged 19.7 points and 6.5 rebounds for the season while Clarke averaged 16.9 points, 8.6 rebounds and 3.2 blocks.
Both players have similar frames, as each stand at 6'8″ and are within 15 pounds of one another. However, Hachimura and Clarke are very different players. While Hachimura is more a traditional post scorer who can face up and extend his game to the perimeter, Clarke is an athletic force that can get out and run in transition.
While Hachimura and Clarke have been all over various mock drafts, the former reportedly got a commitment from the Minnesota Timberwolves, making him likely to be selected at the no. 11 spot, at the very latest. But where does this leave Clarke, and what teams might deem him a good fit?
Here are three ideal potential landing spots for Brandon Clarke in the 2019 NBA Draft:
3. Washington Wizards
The Wizards have the no. 9 pick in the draft, and will almost certainly be targeting a big. There are likely to be plenty to choose from, such as Bol Bol, Jaxson Hayes and Goga Bitadze.
But Washington should consider taking Clarke for a few reasons. Firstly, the Wizards ranked 23rd in blocked shots per game. Clarke led the nation in blocks and also had the highest max vertical leap and lane agility stats for all bigs at the Draft Combine.
Clarke would instantly galvanize Washington's frontcourt alongside a healthy Dwight Howard and Thomas Bryant. The Wizards were in the middle of the pack in terms of offensive rating last season, but ranked just 27th in defensive rating. Adding a certified playmaker on that end would be a massive upgrade over offensive minded players like Bobby Portis.
Additionally, Washington could use another rebounder that can also start the fast break and run with both Bradley Beal and John Wall.
Sure, Wall will likely miss the first half of the 2019-20 season, but he has also never quite had an athletic big during his time in Washington that could get out in transition.
Clarke could be that kind of player.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves
While the Timberwolves may be taking a look at Hachimura, Minnesota would also be a good landing spot for Clarke, and perhaps the better overall fit.
The Timberwolves already have one of the best offensive centers in the game in Karl-Anthony Towns, but Towns has been a below-average defender and struggles with his defensive footwork. What better way to compensate for his deficiencies than by selecting a versatile and athletic defender in Clarke?
And Clarke could in fact stand the most to gain by playing with a stretch four such as Towns, who can clear the paint and allow Clarke to work with guards Jeff Teague and Tyus Jones in pick-and-roll. He certainly has to develop his jump shot and become a face up player in his own right, but Clarke's athleticism and individual skill set seems like a perfect pairing for Towns.
Besides, the Timberwolves are another team that desperately need quality defenders. Hachimura is also a good defender, but is not quite at the same level as Clarke.
One thing is for sure, the Timberwolves might be the likeliest of any team in the lottery to end up with one of the two Gonzaga stars.
1. Boston Celtics
The Celtics own three first-round picks, and it remains to be seen whether or not Danny Ainge will really keep all three. However, Clarke would be a fascinating option for the Celtics, especially if he is still on the board at the no. 20 spot.
While Boston may look to target more of a scoring frontcourt player with their first selection, Clarke would fit in extremely well in terms of the defensive identity that has been established by head coach Brad Stevens and the rest of the roster.
Similar to Towns in Minnesota, Al Horford is capable of stretching the floor and making plays from the perimeter, especially given his court vision and passing ability. But the Celtics need another steady rebounder and paint presence.
Stevens often rotated guys like Gordon Hayward and Marcus Morris at the four, but Clarke would be a more legitimate frontcourt option to bang in the post and make plays defensively and on the glass, especially if he gains a bit of muscle this summer.
If the Celtics scoop up someone like P.J. Washington with their first selection and find that Clarke is still on the board at no. 20, they might consider selecting him.
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