2024 NBA Mock Draft: Raptors win the Lottery, Kentucky guards plummet

6. Washington Wizards select Donovan Clingan

The Washington Wizards are surely hoping to land at the very top of the draft so they can land a premier center prospect. The only "keepers" on the roster right now are forwards Deni Avdija and Bilal Coulibaly; everyone else seems to be a question mark or unlikely to be around when the Raptors finish their rebuild. Falling to No. 6 seems like a painful blow to that rebuild.

In this scenario, however, they have a game-changing defensive center fall to them at No. 6. Donovan Clingan was one of the most impactful players in college basketball this past season and looks like a player who can translate his game to the NBA. He is 7'2" with a 7'7" wingspan and will shut off the paint from day one.

Clingan's offensive game will take more work, and he'll never be much more than a pick-and-roll big and play finisher. If he's a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, however, his offensive game can be enough to give the Wizards a plus starter at center for a very long time.

7. Memphis Grizzlies select Cody Williams

The Memphis Grizzlies are hoping that Donvan Clingan falls to them, as they could use a long-term replacement at center. In this mock, however, he goes a pick earlier, and it leads the Grizzlies to continue chasing their tail and searching for the answer at forward.

They have drafted Ziaire Williams, Jake LaRavia and David Roddy in recent first rounds, searching for a player with size to stand between their dynamic backcourt of Ja Morant and Desmond Bane and All-Star big Jaren Jackson Jr. Cody Williams could be the player to finally fill that void.

Williams has great size at 6'8" and uses it well, defending multiple positions and excelling on the perimeter. On offense he has a lot of potential skills but no undeniable ones; he can score, he can handle, he can pass, but sometimes those don't come together consistently. When they do, however, he looks like the top prospect in the draft. At this point of the draft, that upside is worth the swing.