FanSided Network 2018 NBA Mock Draft

With the top two players off the board in Ayton and Doncic, the Atlanta Hawks have a wide-open field of draft prospects to choose from at No. 3 overall.

Though Jaren Jackson Jr. and Mohamed Bamba are both exceedingly tantalizing prospects with a lot of upside, the immense hype surrounding Marvin Bagley III will be too hard for the team to ignore when they select him third.

Bagley’s ceiling is sky-high, as his elite athleticism, ferocious energy and offensive prowess, which should make him a menace to opposing defenses for years to come. Though his 3-point stroke comes with question marks (despite a stellar 39.7 percent clip from deep), his complete dominance on offense in college should give the Hawks no qualms about selecting Bagley with their first No. 3 pick since Al Horford in 2007.

The Hawks already have an excellent pick-and-roll finisher in John Collins, but Bagley projects to have even more skill in that regard, and he has the elite footspeed to push the ball in transition off made or missed buckets.

Bagley showed tremendous touch around the rim with his soft hands as well as an aptitude for nabbing offensive boards in college, and his footwork around the rim combined with his impressive ability to drive to the basket makes him a strikingly gifted offensive player.

Bagley will need to improve his shooting touch as well as his passing ability in order to truly become the centerpiece of the Hawks’ offense, but since the team is looking solely for upside and high-ceiling players, Bagley will make for an easy choice for the Hawks.

— Chris Guest

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