Donovan Clingan’s No. 1 Pick Odds Continue to Rise as Draft Gets Closer

The NBA Draft is less than two weeks away and it still seems like no one really knows what the Atlanta Hawks are going to do with the pick. Atlanta didn’t expect to win the draft lottery, but now must decide whether to take a player or move back to acquire more assets. This debate still seems to be ongoing, but one player who seems to be gaining a lot of traction is UConn center Donovan Clingan. The odds on Caesars Sportsbook reflect this and after being at +700 to become #1 just a few days ago, it has now risen to +600.

Current odds to become #1:

Alex Sarr: -160

Zacharie Risacher: +150

Donovan Clingan: +600

Ron Holland: +2000

Reed Sheppard: +2,500

Matas Buzelis: +4000

Game odds are updated periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and needs help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

In a recent interview with CBS Sports, UConn head coach Dan Hurley mentioned that he spoke to Hawks head coach Quin Snyder for advice throughout the process of eventual takeover of the Lakers job and Hurley said in the interview that he knew the Hawks really liked Clingan:

“Seth Greenberg. He has always been a great advisor and advisor to me. People I really have a lot of respect for. Tom Izzo. I talked to him. He was very helpful. Billy Donovan has always been someone I’ve talked to a lot. Brad Stevens, Quin Snyder. Quin Snyder is a really smart guy who, I know they (the Atlanta Hawks) really like Donovan (Clingan), so I was able to talk to them about Donovan, but also to pick his brain a lot.

While everything should be taken with a grain of salt until the Hawks make a choice, it’s interesting that Hurley acknowledges that Atlanta likes Clingan, which isn’t really a secret anymore.

In a recent CBS Sports Adam Finkelstein mock, he calls for the Hawks to select Sarr with the No. 1 pick, but he also left an interesting note about the Hawks and Clingan in his notes:

“I’ve gone back and forth about whether Atlanta would select Sarr or Risacher in recent weeks, which I think is an apt reflection of some of the indecision going on in Atlanta. Sources also say that Clingan not only worked, but also made an impression in doing so, fueling rumors of a potential trade down where they could target the big man and add another draft asset.

If the Hawks wanted to go back and take Clingan, how far would they go and what would they get in return? There have been a few mock trades with the San Antonio Spurs where they send #4 and #8 to the Hawks or they send #4 and one of the Hawks picks from the Dejounte Murray trade to Atlanta , but there is no guarantee. that Clingan comes in at No. 4 (or that the Spurs would make that deal to be honest with you). Clingan is a candidate to go to the Wizards with the No. 2 pick and there have been rumors of teams (Memphis?) trying to trade up to the No. 3 pick to take Clingan. It’s not completely out of the question that the Rockets could stay there and take him if they view him as the best player available. Could the Hawks move back to No. 2? Maybe, but no reports suggest the Wizards are interested in moving forward.

Clingan is considered the best college player in this draft and some consider him the safest player in the draft due to his perceived ability to immediately be a top defender and his potential to develop his game on the offensive end. He drew comparisons to four-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert, who played for current Hawks head coach Quin Snyder when they were in Utah. I think a comparison to Gobert is noble, but it’s not hard to see where people get that idea from.

There are less than two weeks until the NBA Draft. Let’s see how everything plays out.