Brooklyn Nets: 3 former first-rounders Sean Marks could give a fresh start
By Mike Luciano
1. Marvin Bagley III
The Sacramento Kings haven’t made the playoffs since the second Bush administration, and draft failures are a huge reason why. Bagley, picked ahead of Luka Doncic and Trae Young, appears to be heading towards bust territory, as his stats last year were almost identical to his rookie numbers.
Bagley’s career will continue past Sacramento, but if he keeps playing as he did with the Kings, he’ll likely be in line for a long journeyman career. If Brooklyn is proactive in acquiring him, they could him a perfect platform to revitalize his career.
Marvin Bagley III could be a small-ball center for the Nets.
No longer would Brooklyn’s big men be relegating to dunking the ball or shooting spot-up 3-pointers. For all of his faults, Bagley can put the ball on the floor and generate offense for himself, and being able to do that with his size and ability to run the floor could be a huge asset for the Nets that they could exploit.
Where a pessimist might see a fourth-year player that hasn’t improved one iota since his rookie year and is one of the worst defenders in the game, an optimist might see someone who has produced despite an awful situation around them in Sacramento. Imagine Bagley fulfilling his potential in Brooklyn and what it could mean for this team.
