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2018 NBA Mock Draft: Impact of the first round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs

By Maxwell Ogden

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 25: Mikal Bridges #25 of the Villanova Wildcats celebrates a win during the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament East Regional against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at TD Garden on March 25, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Wildcats won 71-59. Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 25: Mikal Bridges #25 of the Villanova Wildcats celebrates a win during the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament East Regional against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at TD Garden on March 25, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Wildcats won 71-59. Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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OMAHA, NE – MARCH 25: Marvin Bagley III #35 of the Duke Blue Devils concentrates at the free throw line against the Kansas Jayhawks during the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional Final at CenturyLink Center on March 25, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NE – MARCH 25: Marvin Bagley III #35 of the Duke Blue Devils concentrates at the free throw line against the Kansas Jayhawks during the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional Final at CenturyLink Center on March 25, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /

Marvin Bagley III. 3. player. 79. . Power Forward. Duke Blue Devils

Age: 19 (3/14/1999)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’11”, 234 pounds, 7’0.5″
Slash Line: .614/.397/.627
Season Averages: 33.9 MPG, 21.0 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 4.0 ORPG, 1.5 APG, 0.9 BPG, 0.8 SPG, 0.7 3PM

The Dallas Mavericks have a difficult decision to make at No. 3 overall in the 2018 NBA Draft. The top three options are all power forwards or center, with Marvin Bagley III, Mohamed Bamba, and Jaren Jackson Jr. all deserving consideration.

While Bamba and Jackson were originally at the heart of my internal debate, but Dallas must find a legitimate go-to scorer moving forward and Bagley fits the bill.

Harrison Barnes is a high-quality scorer, but he hasn’t yet proven to be a franchise-level player. Dennis Smith Jr. is one of the most complete up-and-coming point guards in the NBA, but asking a facilitator to also score at a high rate is rarely conducive to championship-caliber success.

Thus, the Mavericks invest in a player who has garnered comparisons to Kevin Durant and a more focused version of Michael Beasley: Bagley.

Bagley has the size, length, and athleticism to be a high-quality defender, which will inevitably appeal to Rick Carlisle. Offensively, he’s expanded his shooting range, is a skilled scorer in the post, and creates at will from as far as 24 feet.

With Dirk Nowitzki as a mentor and a high-quality point guard to alleviate pressure, Bagley could realize his All-NBA potential in Dallas.

Knicks Note: If the New York Knicks move up via the lottery, Bagley would be the pick at No. 3. Kristaps Porzingis would move to center.

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