2021 NBA Draft: Mock 2.0, star power, trades, big risers

Evan Mobley, Jalen Suggs, Knicks, NBA Draft.(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Evan Mobley, Jalen Suggs, Knicks, NBA Draft.(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
4 of 31
NBA Draft
Jalen Suggs, Gonzaga, NBA Draft. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

2021 NBA Draft Mock 2.0: Houston Rockets draft star point guard Jalen Suggs

The remnants of the Daryl Morey era were all but gone when the Houston Rockets traded James Harden early in the 2020-21 season. Now, this young team looks to continue building for the future.

The Rockets are in full rebuild mode, and they get their potential franchise player in Jalen Suggs.

NBA Draft – Jalen Suggs NBA player comparisons:

  • Russell Westbrook in the open court
  • Jamal Murray
  • Jrue Holiday’s defensive tenacity

Suggs is an electric guard who had a lot of the spotlight this past season as a leader of the Gonzaga Bulldogs team that went 31-1 with their only loss coming in the National Championship game.

Jalen Suggs is controlled chaos.

A terrific down-hill, attack-mode point guard, he has a fantastic blend of speed, power, and shiftiness. Whether it’s in the open court or within the halfcourt, Suggs is someone you want with the ball in his hands orchestrating the offense. Some websites have him at 6’5 while others list him at 6’4 – regardless, he has great size for an NBA point guard.

Suggs has a terrific feel for the game and is really just looking to work out the kinks. Whether or not he can be an elite shooter remains to be seen. I personally am confident in his ability to a least become a threat as an off-the-dribble shooter – he has solid shooting mechanics that should translate with good coaching.

As a passer, he’s going to be great in the NBA. He’s going to use his athleticism and speed to get to the rim and make those NBA-level whip passes to open teammates similar to guys like Russell Westbrook and Ja Morant. He’s one of those guys, who can create open shooters with his speed alone.

Suggs has a great team-first aura that oozes winning culture. He’s already a polished, intense perimeter defender.

He’s going to be a great fit running the show in Houston, and fans can already dream about Suggs running with Christian Wood in the open court. Creating a young nucleus of Suggs, Wood, Porter Jr., and Jae’Sean Tate is a nice foundation.