How should the Toronto Raptors proceed after getting the No. 4 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft? Will they settle for one of Jalen Green, Evan Mobley or Jalen Suggs? Could they try to trade up to No. 1 for Cade Cunningham or move down the board to add assets?

The answers to those questions are unknown, but one thing is clear: this upcoming draft could be a momentous one for Toronto.

The Raptors, just two years removed from winning an NBA championship, are on the precipice of a cultural shift. This past season was a rough one, as Toronto missed the playoffs and dealt with some internal turmoil stemming from the Pascal Siakam-Nick Nurse relationship. Of course, Kyle Lowry was discussed at the trade deadline and will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Needless to say, this is an important offseason for the Raptors as they hope to get back to the playoffs, and it all starts with the draft. Here are the five best options for Toronto with the No. 4 overall pick.

5. Raptors trade up

On the one hand, trading up could make a lot of sense for the Raptors because of the fit with Cade Cunningham.

If Toronto wants to have an opportunity to draft Cunningham, however, it will almost certainly need to acquire the No. 1 overall pick from the Detroit Pistons.

The Pistons are putting forth a message of open-mindedness and suggesting Cunningham is not a lock. It's probably a smoke screen. Cunningham perfectly suits Detroit's backcourt. He would give the Pistons an intriguing fit next to Killian Hayes.

It would take quite a lot for the Raptors to move up to No. 1, and the cost simply isn't worth it given the next three projected picks could all be decent fits in Toronto. More on that shortly.

4. Raptors trade back

I'm not sure trading back out of N0. 4 makes a ton of sense for the Raptors either, but it would be more sensible than moving up.

Toronto might be able to use the No. 4 pick to goad a particular team into giving up extensive draft capital. Maybe the Raptors can even get a quality player out of it.

It's entirely possible the Raptors simply don't love their potential options at No. 4, depending on their preference for one or two of the Jalen Green-Evan Mobley-Jalen Suggs trio. If that does prove true, they could certainly decide to move back and stockpile assets.

3. Evan Mobley, USC

There is a lot of focus on Lowry's possible departure opening up a hole in the backcourt, but Evan Mobley is still an intriguing prospect for the Raptors to consider. Actually, a case could be made for him being the best player for Toronto.

The USC star would give the Raptors one of the more versatile frontcourt groups in the NBA, especially after the development of Chris Boucher this past season. He would also anchor the center spot for years to come.

Mobley has yet to tap into his full offensive potential. He has “unicorn” upside as a 7'2″ big with remarkable athleticism and the ability to handle the ball in the open floor. Right now, Mobley is more of a rim-runner who can fill the lane in transition and finish around the rim. Eventually, however, he could be an incredibly dangerous scorer should he continue to develop a perimeter jumper.

The offense might be a bit of a work in progress, but the defense is anything but. Mobley is a dominant force on the interior, contesting everything around the rim and routinely cutting off driving lanes. He can rotate from the weak side to block or disrupt shots and has also been capable of hedging and getting back to his man.

The emergence of Boucher and Khem Birch might make Mobley the odd man out among the next three after Cunningham, but his upside is pretty tough to ignore.

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2. Jalen Suggs, Gonzaga

Jalen Suggs could just as easily be the top player on the Raptors' board after Cunningham.

The Gonzaga Bulldogs point guard showed a vast array of talents in his freshman season. Suggs dazzled with his quick-twitch movements and dynamism off the dribble. His court vision was all the more impressive, as was his knack for taking and making big shots. Suggs was also one of the better perimeter defenders in the country, using his size and length to bother opposing point guards and constantly disrupting things in the passing lanes or getting deflections.

There are certainly some things to work on. Suggs can occasionally be a little reckless on the ball. He has a polished stroke, but wasn't the most efficient shooter from beyond the arc.  Still, his talent as a pure point guard is likely to be incredibly enticing for the Raptors, particularly if Lowry leaves.

Suggs' ability to get to the rim and break opponents down on his own could help Toronto's spacing and allow Fred VanVleet to be something of a roamer who can hunt triples. The Gonzaga star also moves well without the ball and can make an impact on the offensive glass, much as Lowry did.

Toronto might deem Suggs the heir apparent to Lowry's old throne.

1. Jalen Green, G League Ignite

Perhaps Lowry's replacement is already on Toronto's roster. VanVleet could probably slide over to the point. That would open up things at the 2-guard spot, which paves the way for the Raptors to take Jalen Green.

The G League Ignite star arguably has the highest scoring upside in the entire draft. Green is a dynamic athlete who can create for himself and shoot it from beyond the arc. He is more than capable of breaking on-ball defenders down off the dribble and finishing through contact at the rim.

Don't the Raptors need that kind of “bucket-getter” on the roster?

Toronto became overly reliant on its backcourt to create everything during the NBA playoffs in the bubble in Orlando. It was a bit of a similar story last season, even though Pascal Siakam averaged over 23 points per game. Lowry and VanVleet are strong playmakers, but they don't quite have the same scoring upside as Green.

Here's another element to all this: there is no telling the Raptors are able to re-sign Gary Trent Jr., who will be a restricted free agent this summer. Green becomes all the more enticing if Toronto doesn't want to invest too heavily in Trent.

The Raptors could use someone with a scorer's mentality. That makes Green the top option at No. 4, if he's still available.