OKC Thunder NBA draft profile: Rookie PG with vet skills -Jalen Suggs

Pro Comparison:

The list of doppelgangers offered for Suggs is of the elite variety… Brandon Roy, Chauncey Billups, Jamal Murray, Jason Kidd, and De’Aaron Fox.

Because of his grittiness, defense and leadership I can understand the Roy, Billups, and possibly even Kidd comparisons. Murray makes zero sense since he entered the NBA already as a scorer and while Fox and Suggs both possess speed it’s not on the same level (Fox would smoke him) and their bodies are two very different shapes with Jalen already 20 pounds heavier than Fox who is entering his fifth season.

If Suggs lives up to the projections of Billups or Kidd then he’s a talent every team should want but with those crickets chirping it truly begs the question WHY.

OKC Thunder fit:

Of the teams who possess a top-four pick, the Cavaliers may be the most amenable to a deal involving a swap with some sweetener. As noted in the Evan Mobley preview that would likely mean giving up picks and assets and also might require Presti to take on some contracts Cleveland wants to shed.

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If Suggs falls to fourth and the Raptors are willing to swap again that raises a major red flag because Toronto is a team that values character, grit, and leadership, particularly from their guards.

Kyle Lowry is a free agent and while Toronto could re-sign him or do a sign and trade if they aren’t covetous to add a point guard deemed to have Mr. Big Shot or Kidd’s chops that should make Presti question why.

Certainly, Suggs defensive abilities and unselfish style would fit the OKC Thunder typical template. He’d also unleash Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to play off the ball or split the role between the duo. But after years of never having enough 3-point shooting and the team gearing toward positionless ball is he really the best fit?

If we consider Cunningham as the player Presti was drooling over and compare him to Suggs there is an argument to be made that Presti is building a team primarily made up of length across all positions. Luguentz Dort is the exception but he’s a defensive unicorn who can defend bigs, wings, and guards with equal aplomb and thus the exception to the Presti rule.

I won’t go as far as to say Presti wouldn’t draw OKC’s interest, but I’d rank him a distant fourth in that top quartet.