The Smoking Cuban
FanSided

2018 NBA Mock Draft 1.0: The Draft Lottery is Set

By Kohl Rast

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 15: A general view of the NBA Deputy Commissioner, Mark Tatum during the 2018 NBA Draft during the NBA Draft Lottery on May 15, 2018 at The Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, Illinois. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 15: A general view of the NBA Deputy Commissioner, Mark Tatum during the 2018 NBA Draft during the NBA Draft Lottery on May 15, 2018 at The Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, Illinois. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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67. . . PF. Marvin Bagley III. 2

KOHL RAST: I am a firm believer that each team should pick the best available player this early in the draft. I am also a firm believer that Luka Doncic is one of the two best players in this draft. That said, Marvin Bagley III has a really good chance of being the best player from the 2018 class. And I don’t say that lightly.

Bagley’s offense is on a different level than really any other player in the draft. He was able to score at will and there were very few games in the NCAA season where he was not the best player on the court without a shadow of a doubt. He also happens to be the best rebounder in the draft as well.

OMAHA, NE – MARCH 25: Marvin Bagley III #35 of the Duke Blue Devils looks on during their game 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 looks on during their game 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) /

It is not a big stretch to believe that Bagley could be the best player in the NBA Draft this year. Possibly the best part about Bagley’s game is his hustle. When you get someone that is more physically gifted than everyone else on the court, you could end up with a really good player. When you end up with one who is as driven as Bagley is, you get a generational talent.

Bagley won multiple awards in his lone season at Duke. He shot over 61% from the field, including almost 40% from three-point. He also averaged over 11 rebounds per game while showing impressive skill grabbing boards on both ends of the court. I know it’s probably hard to see it for most Luka lovers, but Bagley really is a worthy pick here.

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