Toronto Raptors draft: Is Greg Brown or Kai Jones the better prospect?

Could Kai Jones be the Raptors’ starting center in 2021?

Kai Jones is a 6-10 center that shares the floor with Brown. Jones is another athletically gifted player whose leaping abilities could be described as watching someone on a pogo stick. Like Brown, he has decent handles for a big and can play above the rim.

This would help the Raptors immensely as he will score around the basket and in the paint. With Toronto’s offense relying heavily on pick and roll plays, he would be perfect for diving to the basket after a screen and catching a lob pass.

Jones does seem to have an ability to finish through contact and, for his size, has an excellent euro step maneuver highlighting how flexible and agile he is. He will run the floor well and can defend multiple positions as well.

Jones would give the Raptors a raw center to develop

Jones was a sophomore this season at Texas and was averaging over 22 minutes, 8.8 points, .9 blocks, and 4.8 rebounds a game. He did shoot 38.2 percent on 1.3 three-point attempts, but his shot form is inconsistent and needs work. Further, he is not always ready to shoot, even on wide-open looks, as he tends to hesitate, which could be a confidence issue.

Jones also needs to improve his footwork a bit as he tends to drag his pivot foot. Finally, he will need to work on his defensive positioning and awareness on the court as he is sometimes out of position.

Most of these flaws could be chalked up to Jones only picking up basketball at the age of 15, so he has some learning and catching up to do with more experienced prospects. His talent is undeniable in any event.