The Raptors are zeroing in on Jalen Suggs with the No. 4 pick, though sources tell FortyEightMinutes that the decision is between the Gonzaga guard and Florida State forward Scottie Barnes.
The Raptors have explored several trading avenues ahead of the draft, including moving both up and down. The team is fixated on Evan Mobley, though Cleveland’s high asking price (what has been deemed a “Godfather” offer) is deterring the franchise from moving up to No. 3 where the USC big man is likely to go.
Should Toronto stay put and select Suggs, it doesn’t necessarily mean that he’ll remain with the franchise for long.
“Suggs is a potential set-it-and-forget-it franchise point guard,” one non-Raptors executive tells FortyEightMinutes. “His trade value is tremendous.”
Toronto is rumored to be in on Ben Simmons. And while Philadelphia appears to be holding out for an All-Star in trade for the former No. 1 overall pick, should the franchise shift its expectations, Suggs is the kind of blue-chip talent that would allow the Raptors to get involved.
“I’m gonna embrace wherever I go,” Suggs said during his pre-draft media availability while adding that he feels like he can further improve at the NBA level.
“The best shooters keep working on their shot but they’re also perfectionists,” Suggs continued. “I don’t see any weaknesses in my game but I can still take things to an elite level.”
More NBA Draft Buzz
- Should Barnes make it to the Magic at No. 5, he’ll be the selection for Orlando, sources tell FortyEightMinutes.
- The Jazz are open to trading the No. 30 overall pick, The Athletic’s Tony Jones tweets. Jones notes that there is a prospect that Utah is keen on that would keep them from dealing away the pick. Yet, overall, the team remains active in trade discussions around the league.
- The Heat don’t own a draft pick, though the franchise is looking to trade for one tonight, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald hears. It’s possible that Miami buys a pick later in the draft, having $5.6 million at its disposal to do so.
- The Timberwolves are also looking to obtain a pick in tonight’s draft and they are making calls “all over the league, Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic writes. Minnesota’s first-round pick (No. 7) is in Golden State as a result of the D’Angelo Russell trade.
- The Pacers are “juggling” trade talks involving the 13th pick. One deal involves Myles Turner while the other involves T.J. Warren, Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer relays. The Pacers are also fielding calls from a lot of teams looking to move up, with the Hawks being one of them, according to Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report.
Read More
- Wizards Not Expecting Bradley Beal to Change Course
- NBA Draft Buzz: Giddey, Raptors, Barnes, Trades, Sixers, Mobley
- Blazers Rejecting CJ McCollum Offers Centered Around Draft Picks
