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Toronto Raptors: 3 reasons Jalen Green should be the pick at No. 4

By Matthew Chiu

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 18: Jalen Green #4 of the G League Ignite brings the ball up the floor during a G-League game against the Westchester Knicks at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on February 18, 2021 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 18: Jalen Green #4 of the G League Ignite brings the ball up the floor during a G-League game against the Westchester Knicks at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on February 18, 2021 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. /
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Oct 5, 2018; Colorado Springs, CO, USA; USA Men’s Junior National Team participant Jalen Green (69) during minicamp at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 5, 2018; Colorado Springs, CO, USA; USA Men’s Junior National Team participant Jalen Green (69) during minicamp at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

For the first time in over 7 seasons, the Toronto Raptors missed the playoffs, giving draft lottery night a whole new meaning for Raptors fans. Entering Tuesday night, the Raptors had a 31.9% chance at a top 4 pick, not bad, but not amazing. Surely no shot at landing someone like Cade Cunningham or Jalen Green, right?

Luckily for Toronto, the lotto balls went their way and helped them land the No. 4 pick in the draft, with Detroit, Houston, and Cleveland rounding out the top 3. Getting the No. 4 selection has Toronto sitting pretty, allowing them to sit back and select whoever remains of the consensus top four.

With Cunningham and Evan Mobley unlikely to be available when Toronto is on the clock, it comes down to Green and Jalen Suggs as the most likely candidates to be available for the taking.

While Suggs may be the better player day 1, Green’s sky-high potential may be more intriguing to a team like Toronto with an incredible player development system.

3 reasons the Toronto Raptors should draft Jalen Green

3. Fixable Flaws/High Upside

No, Green is not a perfect prospect. Nor is anyone in this draft. What makes him stand out as a prospect is that the flaws in his game can be easily fixed with good coaching and experience. Green’s weaknesses include defensive play, decision-making, and lack of playmaking. Luckily for Green, we’ve seen players with his exact flaws develop these weaknesses into strengths.

A perfect example of this is former Raptor DeMar DeRozan. Just like Green, he’s a scoring wing that struggled with playmaking early in his career. Since joining Gregg Popovich, he has made playmaking one of his strengths and has become one of the better point-forwards in the league.

Toronto Raptors: Jalen Green’s upside is immense

While Cunningham, Mobley, and Suggs might be better on Day 1, Green’s ceiling could have him as the best player in the draft when it’s all said and done. Green has certain traits in his game that simply can’t be taught.

Unlike most prospects, Green decided to forgo college and instead join the G-League Ignite. In the G-League, Green faced tougher competition than he would have faced at the college level. Green showed promise in his one season in the G-League where he solidified himself as a top 5 pick in the upcoming draft.

Entering the NBA, Green might be better prepared than most think because of the tough competition he faced. Green is still a raw talent that needs to be developed to reach his ceiling, but if a team with a good development system like Toronto is able to get their hands on Green, he’s someone that can effortlessly score 25 points a night.