Toronto Raptors draft: Ranking the top 4 prospects and their fit

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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 03: Jalen Suggs #1 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs waves as he walks off the court after defeating the UCLA Bruins 93-90 in overtime during the 2021 NCAA Final Four semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 03, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

4. Jalen Suggs, PG, Gonzaga

The leader to Gonzaga’s 31-1 record, Suggs might be the perfect heir apparent to Kyle Lowry. Standing at 6’4, 205 lbs, Suggs’ IQ mixed with his elite playmaking is exactly what NBA front offices are looking for in their franchise point guard.

Suggs was a dual-threat quarterback in high school and reportedly had D-1 offers on the table before committing to Gonzaga. If Lowry leaves this off-season, Suggs could fill Lowry’s role almost immediately. Suggs’ athleticism and playmaking ability is something that the Raptors’ current point guards lack.

Toronto Raptors draft: Jalen Suggs has what it takes to be a franchise PG

Suggs is one of, if not, the best playmakers in this draft. In his one season at Gonzaga, Suggs showed off his QB skills by making crazy full-court passes to his teammates. Suggs height and athleticism allow him to blow by defenders while also finishing strong at the rim.

While Suggs is great as a playmaker, he may not be as polished as a scorer. From the midrange, he’s confident and has no issue pulling up beyond the free throw line. He’s struggled to find consistency from 3, where he shot just 33% on the season.

On the defensive end, Suggs is exactly who the Raptors would love. His hustle is like none other, and his frame and quick feet allow him to defend the shiftiest players on the court. He has a knack for stripping the ball from opponents on defense, where he averaged 1.9 SPG last season.

Drafting Suggs would be a “best player available” approach

Out of the top four prospects, Suggs would likely be ranked last on the Raptors draft board. Even with the departure of Kyle Lowry likely this off-season, adding Suggs would be an odd fit due to a crowded backcourt already in place.

If the Raptors are on the clock, and believe Suggs is the best player available, they have to select him and figure the fit out later. The fit shouldn’t deter them from taking Suggs, considering they haven’t been shy of having multiple point guards on the roster in the past.

Flynn and VanVleet are both similar in the sense that they’re both undersized guards that look to score. Suggs would give the Raptors a different point guard because of his frame, athleticism, and playmaking instincts.

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