NBA Draft 2021: 5 best prospects for Toronto Raptors at pick No. 4

Jalen Suggs

The intangibles king in this year’s draft class. The standout Gonzaga guard is one of the more well-rounded players in the draft and is seen as one of the more immediately-ready-to-impact-games players available. But the largest compliment that can be paid to him is that he just makes winning plays.

His biggest moment of the year came on one of the biggest stages. Making the winning half-court shot in the National Semi-Final. Terms like “clutch gene” don’t get thrown around all that often, and to have that be a defining skill set before being in the league is reserved for the very special few. Suggs “It” factor is what may make him the perfect fit for any franchise…especially one that feels they already have enough talent to compete right away.

The consensus on Suggs is that he’s a do it all guard, who is comfortable playing at either the one of the two. He brings premier defensive ability and athleticism that allows him to execute in ways many others can’t. Offensively he gets to the basket with ease, using a combination of speed and tough to create looks.

What makes Suggs most dangerous on the court is his ability to control the game. While yes, he can be a great scorer and an ok shooter right now, his passing and basketball IQ make him lethal when leading a team with talent around him. Something we saw distinctly with a Gonzaga team that looked unbeatable until the very end. He’s an excellent player in the pick & roll, can be the lead guy in transition making pretty much any pass he wants, or scoring it himself.

In the half-court he can be lethal when coming off the ball screen because it’s near impossible to know what exactly he’s going to do, he can ebb and flow, taking what the defense gives him. He can drive, he can pull up for a floater, he’s talented enough to make you respect him from three, or he can pass out of it to the open look elsewhere he’s created…and he doesn’t seem to mind doing any of the three based on what makes the most sense.

Narratively, there may not be a better fit for the Toronto Raptors. With resident bulldog Kyle Lowry’s time potentially coming to an end with the franchise, Jalen Suggs could be that replacement bulldog “heart of a franchise” type of player. His energy, intensity, and attitude make him not only a cookie-cutter Masai Ujari type player but also a fitting heir apparent to Lowry.

Suggs three-point shooting is the place where he needs to improve, a skill that would take him from good to great. He also struggled at the line (relatively) shooting just 76% from the charity stripe. But considering his intensity and it’s not nearly enough of an issue to make you truly worried.

In terms of cultural identity, style, and talent Suggs may be the perfect fit for the Raptors going forward.