2018 NBA Mock Draft: Knicks go big with Mo Bamba
67. . F/C. Duke. Marvin Bagley III. 7. player
In case you haven’t looked in a while, here’s the season Bagley put together — 21 points and 11 rebounds per game on a .643 true shooting percentage, with a 26.3 usage rate, a 7.7 Offensive Box Plus-Minus and a Sweet 16 appearance with Duke. It was one of the most productive offensive seasons we’ve seen at a Blue Blood school in a while.
NBA fans are understandably excited about Bagley, but Sacramento needs that burst of intrigue more than any. The Golden 1 Center is a state of the art facility that fans filled at the 18th-quickest rate in the league. There is perhaps no better combination of brand potential and on-court fit in the league than with Bagley and Sacramento.
Bagley grew up in Phoenix, which should help him acclimate to a smaller market in northern California. He would have all the opportunity in the world with the Kings — only Skal Labissiere and Willie Cauley-Stein have staked a firm claim to playing time at the start of next year based on their performance this season. Bagley could come in and be the team’s third big if he had a solid Summer League and training camp.
It’s past the point of desperation for Sacramento, so maybe they’re in a blissful state of patience. Who knows, but at some point investment in the team must be buoyed by winning, and Bagley probably helps the most with that than anyone else who could be available at No. 7.