Los Angeles Lakers: Complete 2018 NBA Draft first round grades
2. player. 67. . Power Forward. Duke. Marvin Bagley III
With the second pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, the Sacramento Kings selected Duke power forward, Marvin Bagley IV. It became clearer as the draft drew near that Bagley would be the Kings selection despite Luka Doncic still being on the board.
Bagley has 20 point-10 rebound potential in the NBA. He was a monster in the frontcourt for the Blue Devils, averaging 21.0 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. His efficiency was great, as he made 61.4 percent from the field. Bagley will need to improve his jump shot and range, as he wasn’t a great shooter at the collegiate level.
Defensively, Bagley leaves a lot to be desired. While he is athletic and moves well, he doesn’t have great defensive awareness. That could make him a good match in the frontcourt with Willie Cauley-Stein, but there won’t be much spacing with both of them playing together.
Bagley is a good building block and has immense potential. However, passing on Luka Doncic will knock down the Kings grade a little bit. Bagley becomes the highest ceiling player on the team, but that is a crowded frontcourt in Sacramento before you even add in former Duke center, Harry Giles, who missed all of his rookie season rehabbing his knee.
Bagley is a great player, but when arguably the No. 1 player on the board is available and you pass him up, it negatively impacts your grade.