4 2024 NBA Draft prospects with ties to potential Lakers coach Dan Hurley

2. Donovan Clingan, Center

Donovan Clingan is the reason Los Angeles Lakers fans should be optimistic about how Dan Hurley could fit with Anthony Davis. Clingan played just 13.1 minutes per game as a freshman, coming off of the bench in each of his 39 appearances, but managed to start 33 of a possible 35 outings in 2023-24.

Hurley helped Clingan improve exponentially, ultimately enabling him to thrive as the defensive anchor while still finding an important place for him on offense.

One of the core elements of Clingan's appeal as a prospect is his size. He measured at 7'1.75" without shoes at the 2024 NBA Draft Combine, with a 282-pound frame and near 7'7" wingspan that's certain to intrigue general managers.

In the event that he somehow slides to No. 17, the Lakers would find it challenging to pass up the opportunity to pair him with Davis in a restructuring of the 2019-20 championship roster.

Over the course of his two seasons at UConn, Clingan averaged 22.3 points, 14.7 rebounds, 5.3 offensive boards, 2.2 assists, 4.8 blocks, and 1.0 steal per 40 minutes. He's not only big, but seemingly comfortable throwing his weight around on both ends of the floor.

It's also worth noting that Clingan improved his free throw percentage by 6.6 percent from his freshman to sophomore seasons, and seemed to thrive under pressure.

22 points and 16 rebounds in the Big East Championship, and another 22 points and 10 boards in the Elite Eight offer strong evidence to support that belief.