Sacramento Kings: Complete 2018 offseason grades

Drafting Marvin Bagley III

The Kings added to their stockpile of building blocks from blue blood college programs by taking Duke’s Marvin Bagley III with the No. 2 pick in the draft.

Bagley joins De’Aaron Fox (Kentucky), Justin Jackson (North Carolina), Harry Giles (Duke), Willie Cauley-Stein (Kentucky), Skal Labissiere (Kentucky), Yogi Ferrell (Indiana), Frank Mason III (Kansas), Ben McLemore (Kansas) and Deyonta Davis (Michigan State) on a Sacramento roster that is loaded with former five-star recruits and All-Americans who have winning tradition in their respective backgrounds.

In his freshman season for the Blue Devils, Bagley averaged 21.0 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. He was one of just four 20-and-10 players on the D1 level, along with South Dakota State’s Mike Daum, Jock Landale of St. Mary’s, and Arizona’s Deandre Ayton — who was the No. 1 pick in the draft by the Phoenix Suns.

Standing 6’11” and listed at 235 pounds, Bagley is a natural power forward who can also play center. Kings coach Dave Joerger may also play Bagley at small forward as he develops his perimeter skill-set.

That versatility is just part of why Bagley projects as a future NBA All-Star. He is a skilled scorer close to the basket who also has range on his jumper (39.7 percent 3-point shooter). He’s an excellent rebounder whose aggressiveness around the rim and second-jump ability is reminiscent of a young Antawn Jamison, only bigger. Bagley is a great athlete who also plays smart.

Bagley is also marketable and media-friendly, a plus for a Kings franchise that lacks star power. He was one of the first NBA players that the sneaker company Puma sought out to represent them as they make a comeback in the basketball market.

On and off the court, Bagley has all the tools to live up to the hype as Sacramento’s next franchise player.

Grade: A