NBA Draft 2018: Duke Basketball’s Marvin Bagley III looks to end Sacramento Kings’ dry spell for bigs

The Sacramento Kings have struggled as of late to draft a quality big man. Will the second overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft Marvin Bagley III of Duke Basketball work out?

After the presumptive No. 1 overall pick, DeAndre Ayton was selected by the Phoenix Suns, there were some questions as to who Sacramento would take at No. 2. There was Mo Bamba from Texas, Jaren Jackson from Michigan State, and even international sensation Luka Doncic.

But the Kings made their decision, going with Duke Blue Devil Marvin Bagley III. The 6’11 frontcourt star was one of the best players in the country, averaging over 22 points and 11 rebounds a game as a freshman. He was the ACC Player of the Year, as well as a consensus All-American.

What makes Bagley such a unique prospect is his polished offensive game. He essentially could do what he wanted at Duke, scoring in the post and operating on the perimeter. The former Blue Devil is also an underrated passer, with the ball movement never dying once he gained possession.

For his new team, Sacramento hopes that he becomes the centerpiece of their frontcourt. Over the past five years, the Kings have selected multiple big men (Georgios Papagiannis, Skal Labissiere, and Willie Cauley-Stein), yet none have shown themselves to be franchise players.

With De’Aaron Fox showing star potential at the point guard position, he and Bagley could potentially have a potent one-two punch for the next decade-plus. It’s a franchise that has been through turmoil for the last decade, so the hope is that the offensive juggernauts will make the Kings viable as an NBA team going forward.

Next: Top 10 big men in the 2018 NBA Draft

This is once again a huge night for Duke. Bagley’s frontcourt partner Wendell Carter Jr. is expected to be a top-10 pick, while the other three starters (Grayson Allen, Trevon Duval, and Gary Trent Jr.) are likely to hear their name called out tonight as well. Just a regular day in the neighborhood for the Blue Devils.