The Toronto Raptors went from a team with the seventh-best odds at earning the top selection in the 2021 NBA Draft to a squad in prime position to add a game-changer with the No. 4 overall pick. In all likelihood, Toronto will end up with one of either Jalen Suggs, Evan Mobley, or Jalen Green.
While Mobley would be a transformational talent at the center position and Green has all the tools to be an elite scorer out of the gate, Suggs might be the most pro-ready player of that bunch, as his ability to make things happen as a defender, passer, and scorer will earn him a high selection in this draft.
The Suggs-to-Toronto pairing has been frequently cropping up among the mock draft wizards out there, as his style of play and the potential departure of Kyle Lowry appears to make the Raptors an ideal fit for him. Las Vegas seems to agree with those assessments, as the links between Suggs and Toronto are only getting stronger.
According to WynnBet, Suggs is listed as the favorite to get picked No. 4 overall at -165. Mobley is right behind him at +150, with Jonathan Kuminga nipping at his heels with +200 odds of coming to Toronto.
Jalen Suggs actually reminds me a lot of John Wall when he was coming out of Kentucky, @SethDavisHoops writes.
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) July 16, 2021
“Suggs isn’t quite as fast end-to-end as Wall was, but he’s a better outside shooter at the same stage.”
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Jalen Suggs is projected to be picked by the Toronto Raptors
Cunningham is the overwhelming favorite to be picked No. 1 overall, meaning he is a laughable +20000 to be picked at No. 4. That’s Las Vegas’ way of telling you this is simply not happening.
Green, who has +400 odds to be picked No. 4 overall, is a -150 favorite to be taken No. 2 by the Houston Rockets. Mobley, with -140 odds, is the favorite to be picked by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the No. 3 pick.
Suggs is by no means a consolation prize for missing out on Green and Mobley. Suggs’ Bulldogs came one win short of running the table and winning the title, and Suggs’ 14.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.9 steals per game are a huge reason why.
If Suggs becomes an elite 3-point shooter, the Raptors will have stumbled upon their ideal Lowry replacement. A tremendous defender with quality passing, some insane speed with the ball in his hands, and the finishing at the rim to score effectively in the pros, Suggs’ physical toolbox is mouth-watering.
Considering that the Raptors were going to be nowhere close to Suggs’ projected draft range when the season ended, the fact they could lean on a super-young backcourt of Suggs, Fred VanVleet, and Gary Trent Jr. will certainly make the fanbase happy.
The Raptors leaving what could be a very chaotic draft with Suggs in tow would be an absolute victory.