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2018 NBA Mock Draft: Full first round before 2018 NCAA Tournament

By Maxwell Ogden

MADRID, SPAIN - JANUARY 25: Luka Doncic, #7 guard of Real Madrid during the 2017/2018 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Regular Season Round 20 game between Real Madrid v Anadolu Efes Istanbul at Wizink Arena on January 25, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Sonia Canada/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN - JANUARY 25: Luka Doncic, #7 guard of Real Madrid during the 2017/2018 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Regular Season Round 20 game between Real Madrid v Anadolu Efes Istanbul at Wizink Arena on January 25, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Sonia Canada/Getty Images) /
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DURHAM, NC – MARCH 03: Marvin Bagley III #35 of the Duke Blue Devils concentrates at the free throw line against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Cameron Indoor Stadium on March 3, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. Duke won 74-64. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NC – MARCH 03: Marvin Bagley III #35 of the Duke Blue Devils concentrates at the free throw line against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Cameron Indoor Stadium on March 3, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. Duke won 74-64. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /

156. . Power Forward. Duke Blue Devils. Marvin Bagley III. 5. player

Age: 18 (3/14/1999)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’11”, 234 pounds, 7’0.5″
Slash Line: .605/.370/.620
Season Averages: 33.4 MPG, 21.1 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 3.9 ORPG, 1.6 APG, 1.0 BPG, 0.9 SPG, 0.7 3PM

With no one quite sure of what LeBron James is going to do in free agency, the Cleveland Cavaliers need to search for a new franchise player. Even if James re-signs, he’ll turn 34 years of age within the first three months of the 2018-19 regular season.

Thankfully for the Cavaliers, Marvin Bagley III of the Duke Blue Devils should be available at No. 5 if this scenario plays out in the 2018 NBA Draft.

Bagley was previously compared to Kevin Durant, but he plays closer to current New York Knicks forward Michael Beasley. That might be a polarizing truth, but Beasley is a sensational scorer whose work ethic and focus have held him back—not his talent.

For the Cavaliers, adding a player of this caliber via the Brooklyn Nets’ first-round draft pick would prepare it for both the short-term and long-term future.

Bagley has the tools to be the best player in this draft class, with a unique combination of size, length, and skill level. His handle is advanced for a player his age, which makes driving and posting up skills that he can translate to the next level.

Also a dominant rebounder, Bagley has the tools to step in at power forward with Kevin Love at the 5 and James at the 3—or even move to the perimeter with the proper guidance.

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