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Jalen Suggs slipping to No. 5 is first surprise of NBA Draft 2021

Most mock drafts didn't see this one coming.

Most mock drafts didn’t see this one coming.

The Raptors selected Florida State star Scottie Barnes with the No. 4 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft on Thursday night — knocking Gonzaga product Jalen Suggs out of the top four. The Magic ended up taking Suggs with the fifth pick.

Jalen Suggs slipped to No. 5 in the NBA Draft.
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Barnes could fit in well with Toronto’s OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam. Though, he could miss out on the veteran leadership of Kyle Lowry, who may be on the move.

Barnes, at 6-foot-9 with a 7-2 wingspan, is known for his elite defensive skills on the court, often drawing comparisons to the Warriors’ Draymond Green.


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Though Barnes lacks a solid 3-point shot, his ball-handling and passing abilities help compensate for his shooting struggles, especially his at the line — where he shot 62 percent at Florida State.

Suggs slipped slightly down draft boards after leading Gonzaga to the final game of the NCAA Tournament, at which point many considered him a possibility for the first or second pick.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Jenna Lemoncelli

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