The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Suggs would make Cavs defense instantly better
Cavs have the third pick in the NBA draft
Cavs general manager Koby Altman never has been afraid to carve his own path through draft pick opinions.
Virtually every analyst paid to forecast the NBA draft has the Cavaliers taking USC center/forward Evan Mobley with the third pick, but Cavs general manager Koby Altman has never been afraid to carve his own path.
Jalen Suggs, the 19-year-old guard from Gonzaga, would be a surprise choice with the third pick but not one that would leave fans slapping their foreheads.
The NBA draft begins at 8 p.m. July 29. The first round will be televised on ABC and ESPN. The second round will be televised on ESPN only.
Suggs, a quarterback in high school, was Mr. Football and Mr. Basketball at Minnehaha Academy in Minneapolis. Ohio State, Georgia and Alabama wanted him to pursue football, but he chose to play basketball at Gonzaga over offers from Florida, Florida State and Minnesota. He is cousin to former NFL star Terrell Suggs.
“On offense Suggs plays with good balance,” the NBAdraftroom.com scouting report says, “He operates within the flow of the game and also has the ability to take over when needed. He’s a solid three-point shooter who doesn’t always look for his shot but can score in bunches when needed. He needs to get more consistent from downtown but has all the makings of becoming a high level NBA three-point shooter.”
The Cavaliers have an established backcourt with Darius Garland and Collin Sexton, though sources insist the Cavs want to trade Sexton.
Suggs is 6-foot-4. Garland and Sexton are each 6-foot-1 and sometimes their size is a detriment defensively.
Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff emphasizes defense. Suggs made a name for himself by leading Gonzaga to the NCAA championship game where the Bulldogs lost to Baylor.
His three-pointer at the buzzer, off the backboard, to beat UCLA 93-90 in a semifinal game, is what Suggs is best remembered for, but he will help his next team on the other end of the floor, whether it’s the Cavaliers, the Toronto Raptors with the fourth pick or Orlando Magic picking fifth.
“His football background really shows up on the defensive end and rebounding the ball where he’s aggressive and powerful at the point of attack,” the NBAdraftroom scouting report says. “He plays bigger than his height. He plays the passing lanes really well and reads the play like an NFL safety. He’s got the strength and quickness to guard multiple positions.
“From an intangibles standpoint he’s off the charts, showing elite competitive fire, leadership, hustle and a will to win.”
Suggs averaged 14.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.9 steals at Gonzaga. His playing style is closer to Garland’s than Sexton’s.
“He’s a great decision maker — averaging fewer than three turnovers per game in his lone season at Gonzaga despite a high usage rate,” according to the ca.nba.com scouting report. “He’s more than capable of making advanced passes in pick-and-rolls or drive-andkick situations.
“Suggs could become a more consistent shooter, both off the dribble and catch-and-shoot. His quickness, speed and size helped him create separation in college but against faster, stronger defenders in the NBA, he may have to get more creative to score consistently at the next level.”
Altman reportedly has had offers from Toronto and Orlando for the third pick. Trading it to the Raptors would still guarantee the Cavs of landing Mobley or Suggs, assuming the Pistons take Cade Cunningham and the Rockets take Jalen Green as expected.
The Cavaliers do not have a second-round pick.