Gonzaga Basketball: Best NBA Fit for Current Zags Stars
Teresa Powe
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It’s almost time for some of the current Gonzaga basketball stars to graduate to the NBA. The Newest Zags star, freshman Jalen Suggs, is touted as a top-five draft prospect. In my opinion, here are where they will best fit.
If you are a losing team in the NBA, you have a greater chance of getting one of the top ten draft picks. As one of the top five picks, Jalen Suggs will be the first Gonzaga basketball player to come off the board.
At this point in the season, the Minnesota Timberwolves in the west and the Detroit Pistons in the east are the two teams at the 15th seed. The 12 other teams not making the playoffs would be in the draft lottery and eligible to choose from the top available players.
Believe it or not, the New York Knicks are not eligible for the lottery if the season ended today. That makes it almost impossible for NYK to draft Suggs.
Corey Kispert and Jalen Suggs are the two most likely to go early in the first round. Center Drew Timme could be an early second-round choice, while former Bulldog Filip Petrusev could be a late first round.
Jalen Suggs, Guard – Detroit Pistons
As a guard, you would think Suggs goes to a team that needs a point guard. Not necessarily in the NBA. For some reason, the Cleveland Cavaliers drafted only point guards in the first round over the last four years. That means they would most likely take Suggs.
I hope Suggs goes to a team that needs him and can develop his talent to be amazing. I see a Chris Paul-type player. Unfortunately, CP3 has never gone to the Finals. I hope Jalen does better at the next level.
If the draft were held today, I Suggs would go to the Detroit Pistons. Lottery teams in the east and the west have superstar point guards, and their backups are great also. Unless he’s there when it’s the Cavaliers pick, they’ll take him. The Cavs have only three active point guards.
Corey Kispert, Forward – Cleveland Cavaliers
Corey Kispert is a sharpshooter. Every team needs a sharpshooter.
More than likely, Kispert would go to a team like the Cleveland Cavaliers. Since Kevin Love has been out, the Cavs are in deep need of a Corey Kispert-like forward. The Cavs have Taurean Prince and Larry Nance, Jr., but both are a little injury-prone, and Kispert will develop into a great forward, maybe even taking Love’s place.
Filip Petrusev, Power Forward – Dallas Mavericks
Wouldn’t it be great to see the duo of Filip Petrusev and Luka Doncic? The Mavericks still have Kristaps Porzingis, who everyone thought what a great tandem with Luka. It hasn’t quite turned out that way. Doncic is still carrying the whole team. Watch a game, and you will see Doncic does everything!
Porzingis is good, too, when he is healthy and on the court. The Mav’s problem is Porzingas doesn’t take the court enough to put Dallas over the top. With a player like Petrusev on his team, Luka gets some much-needed help. In his first season at Mega Soccerbet in his native Serbia, he is averaging 24 points and eight rebounds per game.
Drew Timme, Center – Golden State Warriors
What team needs a Drew Timme? All of them. Timme is a center that can do it all. His skill with the ball and great footwork makes him hard to defend in the paint.
If they are smart, the Golden State Warriors will draft him. In 2021, the Warriors have two first-round picks, one is protected, and two second-round picks. Their current centers are James Wiseman and Kevon Looney, so somewhere in there is room for Timme. He’s flexible enough to play in a three-man power rotation with Wiseman and Draymond Green.
Golden State will have the Smash Brothers back for the 21-22 season. They could be back on the Championship track with a skilled center like Drew Timme.
Although it will be sad to see these stars move on, with coach Few at the helm, the Gonzaga Bulldogs will still be the WCC’s team to beat.