While Gonzaga’s legendary win against UCLA in the Final Four was one of the greatest games in college football history, the NBA was watching this game to see if star Bulldogs point guard Jalen Suggs could come through in the clutch. The Toronto Raptors, who could lose Kyle Lowry this offseason, have to like what they saw out of Suggs.
Suggs, who has averaged 14.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game this season, is starting to cement himself as a no-doubt top-three selection in the draft, as he, Oklahoma State’s Cade Cunningham, and USC’s Evan Mobley will likely be the first three off of the board in some form or fashion.
Just for the sake of argument, let’s say the gods are merciful and the Raptors end up in a position to draft Suggs. Will handing the keys to a teenage point guard be the right move in the short and long term?
As of that Final Four game, the answer is yes. Even if Lowry signs elsewhere, Suggs proved against the Bruins that he is a Day 1 starter given his high ceiling on the offensive and defensive ends. he’d be perfect for the Raptors.
Jalen Suggs: “I’ve always wanted to run on the table like Kobe and D-Wade”
— Isabel Gonzalez (@cisabelg) April 4, 2021
Dwayne Wade: “I jumped on my kitchen table after you hit this shot bro” https://t.co/ftbAF5IAqM
Toronto Raptors: Jalen Suggs could succeed Kyle Lowry
Suggs looks like as safe a bet as there is to succeed in the NBA, but could he come through in the clutch? The answer is an unequivocal yes, and any team that decides to stick him on the bench would be committing basketball malpractice.
Lowry, who was rumored to be one step away from the Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers in trade discussions, could feel freer to leave in pursuit of a championship, as he won’t leave the Raptors completely deserted at the point guard position.
Instead of overpaying for Lowry on a short-term deal, which would all but eliminate the financial flexibility Masai Ujiri has been working so hard to create and potentially create a logjam at point guard, a Toronto team led by a Suggs-Fred VanVleet backcourt could use money that would’ve been allocated to Lowry elsewhere on the roster, perhaps to improve their rebounding.
If Lowry does indeed leave, trading up for Suggs should not be out of the question, as doing so could set the Raptors up in the backcourt for the next half-decade, at the very least. This run has proved Suggs can hit the ground running in the pros with the Raptors or any other team.
If the Raptors continue to lose and end up as the beneficiaries of some insane luck, Suggs might end up coming to Toronto. Lowry potentially leaving could be a blessing in disguise if it gives whoever replaces him immediate playing time.