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The 2021 NBA draft will take place Thursday, July 29 with the Detroit Pistons holding the No. 1 pick. The Houston Rockets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto Raptors and Orlando Magic round out the top five selections.
We take a look at some of the prospects available in this draft, gauge their strengths, weaknesses, NBA comparisons and best landing spot within the player’s projected draft range. Here’s a breakdown for Gonzaga guard Jalen Suggs.
Strengths
Suggs is a strong ball-handler with great instincts. He’s able to create for others and also attacks the rim well. His best attribute is his defense, which is already capable of shoring up a team on that front. Suggs has the speed, athleticism and basketball IQ to be an All-Star. The development curve is great at 19.
Weaknesses
The biggest knock on Suggs is his lack of a consistent three-point shot, but he hit enough triples at Gonzaga to suggest he can develop that shot over time. His free throw shooting is another indication of his shooting potential.
Player Comparison
Suggs is a little bit bigger than Chris Paul, but has a lot of the same skills as the likely Hall of Famer. Paul eventually added a consistent three-point shot in the league, something Suggs can improve on.
Best Landing Spot
Suggs is expected to go near the beginning of the draft and can be the leader on any team. The Toronto Raptors are the best fit given Cleveland’s backcourt depth and Suggs makes sense with Kyle Lowry likely heading out. The Raptors can build a contender around him and Pascal Siakam.