The 2024 NBA Draft is two weeks away. While this year's class of players hasn't been held in the highest regard compared to recent drafts, it's still possible plenty of stars can emerge from this group. One player who can do so is UConn's Donovan Clingan. After winning two consecutive National Championships with the Huskies, Clingan looks like a two-way force who should be a top-ten pick. Clingan would really fit well with the Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies if selected by either franchise in the 2024 NBA Draft.

The Portland Trail Blazers find their new center

On paper, it wouldn't seem like center would be high on the Blazers' pecking order of positions to address in the draft. They acquired both Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams III in trades last offseason. On top of that, undrafted free agent rookie Duop Reath played well as a backup five last year. They've got plenty of bigs.

But neither of those guys seems like a franchise cornerstone. Williams III played just six games with Portland due to a knee injury that has plagued him for years. Ayton's play throughout his career has been far too inconsistent. His defensive activity comes and goes and he never plays with force offensively. Ayton is 7 feet and 247 pounds but has averaged at least three free throw attempts per game once in his career.

That's where Donovan Clingan can come in. He is an outstanding defensive anchor and rim protector who can facilitate and finish plays offensively too.

After building around three guards in Scoot Henderson, Anfernee Simons, and Shaedon Sharpe, the Blazers could really use a big who can anchor their defense. Clingan can do that and looks like a perfect fit offensively. Portland hasn't always had great luck drafting big men, but Clingan should be able to break that mold this time around.

The Memphis Grizzlies bolster their frontcourt

A disastrous season that was plundered by injuries has the Grizzlies picking inside the lottery. While Memphis surely would've taken a playoff run, their misfortune could wind up becoming a stroke of luck if they hit on this pick after winning over 50 games a year ago. The best way for them to do so would be to take Clingan if he fell to them.

The Grizzlies need a center. Jaren Jackson Jr. is a great player and outstanding defensive player, but he is not an anchor. In the 2022-23 season when Jackson Jr. was the lone big man on the floor, the Grizzlies had a defensive rating of 119.6 according to Cleaning the Glass. That would've been tied for last with the San Antonio Spurs that year.

Jackson Jr. really got exposed during the FIBA World Cup for his inability to control and command a defense.

Jackson is best roaming in the paint off of non-shooters for that reason. He is way more effective when he has a running mate at center to help him. Memphis doesn't really have that guy on their roster, so Donovan Clingan can fill that void. They traded away Steven Adams and Xavier Tillman Sr. at the trade deadline this year. Brandon Clarke and Santi Aldama are around but neither quite has the frame of a defensive anchor.

Clingan would be a great fit with the Grizzlies if they can draft him. He likely won't be available for Memphis with their ninth overall selection, but they should absolutely pull the trigger if he is. That would make their lost 2023-24 season worthwhile.