NBA Mock Draft: DeAndre Ayton joins the Hawks

It just makes sense to roll with the Amar’e Stoudemire comparison for now. Few near-7-footers have come through the league with so much oomph behind every motion. Stoudemire dominated right from the word “go” when he entered the league, winning Rookie of the Year and scoring 20 points per game throughout the next dozen or so years. Bagley has that kind of potential, only an evolutionary version of it.

The freshman is shooting 36 percent from 3 and making an impact defensively, two things Stoudemire never did. He is also far bigger than STAT was upon entering the league, with Bagley having successfully banged around with Mo Bamba and Jaren Jackson already this season. He weighs 234 pounds, and is young enough to still add quite a bit of bulk to his frame. By the time he is fully grown, it will be nearly impossible to stop him on the way to the rim.

Part of what makes Bagley special is his ability to create his own offense, with a decent handle and footwork combined with special athleticism. In open space, Bagley can get a shot off. His skill set points to someone who, like Stoudemire, could eventually be a primary creator on a good offense.