Minnesota Timberwolves: Early Look at the 2021 NBA Draft

Jalen Suggs, Guard, Gonzaga

Jalen Suggs is the type of guard that can play with anyone in the backcourt. At Gonzaga, he’s shared time with fellow draft prospect Joel Ayayi, who is having one of the most efficient seasons for any guard in the NCAA this year. A lot of what Ayayi does, getting open looks and advantageous matchups, is largely because Suggs is as good as he is. There’s less pressure for Ayayi to perform for Gonzaga, although his splits are impressive anyways – 67-percent from two, 39-percent from three.

The appealing part of Suggs is his ability to play on or off ball while maintaining his effectiveness as a scorer and playmaker (whether primary or secondary). Suggs has had at least 14 games with 5+ assists (a mark that is harder to reach in college) and only eight games which he did not score in double digits.

More impressively, he’s able to achieve these numbers on the best college team in the country. Gonzaga has four players that have a possibility of being selected, and it is likely that all five of their starters (Suggs, Ayayi, Corey Kispert, Andrew Nembhard, and Drew Timme) will be Summer League players.

Suggs isn’t the best defender, but he is active enough to generate turnovers, and often can take the tougher backcourt assignment. Suggs only had one game this season which he did not generate a steal.

For the Timberwolves, Suggs makes a lot of sense, although there has to be a question about whether D’Angelo Russell would be with the team long-term, should that be the direction that Minnesota goes. Suggs can play with Russell and wouldn’t have to be the primary ball-handler to have success. That said, the Timberwolves also selected Anthony Edwards with the first overall selection last year, and also signed SG Malik Beasley to a four-year contract.