2018 NBA Mock Draft: If need were all that mattered
F/C. Duke. Marvin Bagley III. 4. player. 211.
Memphis is reportedly willing to part ways with the fourth overall pick, and so fans of 29 other teams are understandably cooking up trade scenarios to move into that spot and take a prospect like Bagley, Luka Doncic or Mohamed Bamba. For the Grizzlies, the factor of having Marc Gasol in place, even for just a half-season, is too important to pass up the cluster of big men who would be available to them with this pick.
Bagley is not just a scorer — he could help Memphis in a variety of areas. He shot 40 percent from distance (and 48 percent from NBA range) on a couple attempts per game, competed on the boards (especially extending possessions on the offensive glass) and ran the floor with energy. I think the perception of Bagley has fallen to that point where people believe him to be the next coming of Jahlil Okafor or Thomas Robinson, a back-to-the-basket player who cannot succeed in the modern NBA.
No, Bagley will be good. His floor is quite high, and the fact that the questions about his game are so specific show just how far we have to go to find problems in his game. It’s not clear which big man position he will defend or what his role on offense will be. He looks like a center on offense, but it’s difficult to imagine him consistently protecting the rim or bodying up on brutal post players in the playoffs. We’ll see.
The Grizzlies have veteran talent to help insulate Bagley during his rookie season, and play a tough style that should help support him over time.