Sir Charles in Charge
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2018 NBA Mock Draft: Versatile bigs dominate the top 5

By Connor Harr

CHAPEL HILL, NC - FEBRUARY 08: Marvin Bagley III #35 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts after a play against the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game at Dean Smith Center on February 8, 2018 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - FEBRUARY 08: Marvin Bagley III #35 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts after a play against the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game at Dean Smith Center on February 8, 2018 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 03: Marvin Bagley III #35 of the Duke Blue Devils drives against Tariq Owens #11 and Justin Simon #5 of the St. John’s Red Storm at Madison Square Garden on February 3, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 03: Marvin Bagley III #35 of the Duke Blue Devils drives against Tariq Owens #11 and Justin Simon #5 of the St. John’s Red Storm at Madison Square Garden on February 3, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /

5. Memphis Grizzlies: Marvin Bagley, PF, Duke

Big Board Rank: 5

As much as Memphis needs to just absolutely tear everything down finally they won’t do it. They just can’t do it if Marvin Bagley is available. Memphis is without a doubt the best fit for Bagley. The freshman from Duke is leading a team full of NBA prospects in scoring.

Bagley would benefit playing alongside Marc Gasol in the frontcourt. Gasol can hide Bagley’s weakness as a rim protector, as Gasol is a former defensive player of the year and at 33 he can help Bagley immediately. Hopefully with Gasol’s career starting to wind down he can help Bagley in pick and roll defense and rotations to put himself in position to challenge shots at the rim. In contrast Bagley’s rebounding ability, averaging 11.4 rebounds per game will help Gasol’s lack of rebounding, never averaging 10 rebounds a game in his career.

Offensively, Bagley would thrive in the ball screen game with Mike Conley. Gasol could move into a more perimeter-oriented role, and we could see Bagley isolated often off ball screens working from the 16-18 foot range and in. Having Conley who get the ball to Bagley in position to score, and Gasol who is a threat to shoot threes gives Bagley space to operate. There shouldn’t be any surprise if Bagley ends up as the leading rookie scorer if he lands in Memphis.