The most important player on each and every NBA team this season

By Ti Windisch | Aug 28, 2018

CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 08: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers defended by Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

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TARRYTOWN, NY – AUGUST 12: Marvin Bagley III of the Sacramento Kings poses for a portrait during the 2018 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at MSG Training Center on August 12, 2018 in Tarrytown, New York.NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Sacramento Kings — Marvin Bagley

The Luka Doncic — Trae Young trade was obviously huge for both the Mavericks and the Hawks, but the Sacramento Kings are the ones who allowed the whole thing to go down. The Kings took Marvin Bagley III with the second overall pick, allowing Doncic to fall past them.

That’s a tough situation for Bagley to be in. The pressure on a second overall pick in the NBA is high regardless of anything else, but there was an incredible amount of hype surrounding Doncic after his also-incredible European career unfolded over the last couple years. If he is a superstar, he will invariably be compared to Bagley forever.

Aside from the player, the trade will have a huge impact on the Kings as well. Vlade Divac has made some questionable at best moves already, and all of a sudden he’s got a whole lot of draft capital tied up in Bagley. Sacramento likely losing its first round pick in the 2019 NBA Draft won’t help matters any.

Bogdan Bogdanovic and De’Aaron Fox are important young players in Sacramento as well, but neither of them were drafted as high as Bagley. The athletic big man is the latest lottery pick going to Sacramento, and the most important one remaining on the Kings roster.

Bagley won’t be expected to make the Kings good right away, especially not in this conference, but there will be a tough situation in Sactown if he doesn’t show some signs of promise early on. At least Kings staff and fans are used to tough situations.

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