2021 NBA Mock Draft — 4. Jalen Suggs, Toronto Raptors
The Raptors snag the best prospect on the board, and a prospect who is capable of winning basketball games next season. Toronto may slip into a rebuild at any moment, but frankly, there’s enough on that roster to make the playoffs in 2022. With Kyle Lowry’s departure inevitable, Suggs can fill a major void right away.
Suggs is one of the best decision-makers in the draft. He would have the luxury of playing next to Fred VanVleet in the backcourt, as well as with Pascal Siakam in transition. The Raptors move the ball around, and Suggs should thrive in that kind of up-tempo, movement-heavy system. He’s not one to muck up possessions, and the Raptors are well positioned to maximize his upside as a complementary scorer.
At 6-foot-4, Suggs has the length and size to defend either guard spot, and the competitive streak necessary to provide immediate benefits of that side of the ball. He’s a year-one starter, and one of the smartest players on the board. Jumping into the top-4 was a stroke of luck for Toronto.