Analysts deemed four players as the definitive upper tier of the 2021 NBA Draft class with point guard Jalen Suggs among that quartet. Like the trio Intentions previously profiled, the OKC Thunder won’t have access to the youngster unless they make a deal with a team in the top four.
The Gonzaga point guard has been placed as high as second within that group but more recently dropped down given the other Jalen (Green) moving up the ladder.
Suggs led the Bulldogs who brought an unbeaten record into March Madness. The perfect season alluded Gonzaga as the Baylor Bears beat them in the final match. Yet, that dream was only kept alive because the Minnesota native hit an overtime hail Mary 3-pointer versus UCLA in their Final Four game.
The 6’4″ Suggs enters the draft with experts already comparing him to Hall of Fame point guards and predicting his leadership qualities will transfer easily to the pros.
OKC Thunder draft prospect profile for Jalen Suggs:
Specifics:
- Height: 6’4″
- Weight: 205 pounds
- Wingspan: 6’6″
- Position: Guard
- Birthdate/Age: June 6, 2001 – 20 years
- College: Gonzaga, freshman
- Stat line: 14.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.9 steals
- Home Town: St. Paul, Minnesota
Box Score Statistics:
| Season | G | MP | FG | FG% | 2PA | 2P% | 3PA | 3P% | FTA | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-21 | 30 | 28.9 | 5.2 | .503 | 6.8 | .588 | 3.5 | .337 | 3.8 | .754 | 5.3 | 4.5 | 1.9 | 14.4 |
Provided by CBB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 7/11/2021.
Current Ranking:
Most mock drafts have Suggs going with the fourth pick to the Toronto Raptors. However, the youngster might move up to third given the recent rumors in Cleveland. Specifically, Collin Sexton wants to receive a max contract which would hamstring the Cavaliers’ flexibility, and more accurately the young guard is likely better suited as a Sixth Man which wouldn’t warrant him receiving a max contract.
The other reality in Cleveland is they added Jarrett Allen via trade this past season and have a wealth of big men already on the roster. Although the Cavs say they can make it work with both Evan Mobley and Allen since neither spreads the court that option seems unlikely which opens the door for Suggs to be selected third and Sexton to be traded.
- The Ringer: 4th
- NBA DraftNet: 2nd
- ESPN: 4th
- CBS Sports: 4th
- NBA: 3rd
- Bleacher Report: 4th
- FanSided The Step Back: 4th
With that let’s dive a little deeper into Suggs to determine his strengths and weaknesses.
OKC Thunder prospect profile – Jalen Suggs strengths and weaknesses
Strengths:
Part of the reason the Gonzaga Bulldogs came close to the perfect season was the leadership of Jalen Suggs. At 20 years old the youngster plays with a calm demeanor and high I.Q. often displayed by veterans who’ve developed the ability to manage their teams after years of honing their skills.
At 6’4″ he offers good size at his position and his body is already NBA-ready with the strength to take contact and defend. He’s an adept floor general who epitomizes the old-school point guards that ran the offense who prioritized putting their linemates in a position to score rather than taking the primary scoring role.
That’s not to say he isn’t capable of taking on that role if the situation dictates. Rather the combination of his speed, strength, and high I.Q. afford him the option of making that choice.
Suggs toolbox is equipped with excellent dime dishing and most consider him the best leader of the class who could take on a similar role even as a rookie. Think Ja Morant but with muscles and a bit of a gritty side.
The Bulldog was equally successful playing off the ball, rebounds well, and takes after his alma mater nickname when it comes to pressuring the ball to force turnovers.
In fact, aside from his already established leadership traits, his greatest strength is on the defensive end where he can guard several positions and will only improve under the right system and tutelage.
Weaknesses:
He shot 33.7 percent from the perimeter on 3.5 attempts per game so, clearly, his range is an issue and the shot mechanics need to be fine-tuned. His 75.4 percent is decent but needs to be better for a point guard and again highlight the need to get into the lab and work on his shooting form.
With Jalen Green moving ahead of him recently and some of the top teams citing Scottie Barnes as a player they might be more interested in that raises some red flags.
Playing in the easier West Coast Conference contributed to the Bulldogs’ 31-1 record. Suggs’ overtime 3-point bank shot moved Gonzaga into the final game but they could’ve easily lost to UCLA. While Jalen was the high scorer in the final match versus Baylor he dished only three assists and that seemed to be based more on the Bear’s defensive choice.
Perhaps that’s playing into the seeming slide or lack of interest from prospective drafting teams. The analysts rave about him for the most part but I’m wondering if some teams aren’t buying the hype.
Something just feels a bit off when it comes to the young guard and the lack of pre-draft buzz. Especially when Cunningham, Green, Mobley, and even Kuminga are still receiving favorable reviews and shout-outs whereas with Suggs it’s sort of — crickets.
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.