The Sacramento Kings hold the keys to the 2018 NBA Draft, which means there has been the potential for total chaos at the top. The Suns have been set on taking Deandre Ayton for weeks in the NBA’s worst-kept secret, which means Sacramento at No. 2 provide the most intrigue in the top five.
We’ve heard rumors that the Kings were split between Luka Doncic and Marvin Bagley III, with Michael Porter Jr. briefly appearing in the rumor mill. However, hours before the draft the Kings have apparently settled on their man.
Marc Stein, Sam Amick, and Shams Charania all reported within minutes of each other that Duke big man Bagley would be the choice of the Kings when they are put on the clock shortly after 7 p.m. ET later in the night. Stein and Amick noted they were “lasered in” on Bagley, while Charania went as far as to say they’re “locked in” on the offensively gifted center.
With Deandre Ayton widely expected to go No. 1 overall to Phoenix, league sources say Sacramento has lasered in on Marvin Bagley with the No. 2 pick in tonight’s NBA Draft
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 21, 2018
Kings laser focused on Marvin Bagley III at No. 2, I'm told, with chance to get supremely athletic versatile big apparently too good to pass up https://t.co/3NM4r2DEyB
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) June 21, 2018
Sources: Phoenix (Arizona’s DeAndre Ayton) and Sacramento (Duke’s Marvin Bagley III) have locked in on the NBA Draft’s Nos. 1 and 2 picks.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 21, 2018
ESPN’s Jonathan Givony followed that up by saying the Kings have been set on Bagley for more than a month.
Sacramento has been locked in on Marvin Bagley with the No. 2 pick for over a month now, as outlined on the Woj podcast after the NBA draft lottery and in follow up reporting at the Euroleague Final Four in mid May.
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 21, 2018
There will be plenty of second guessing regarding the second pick, as Doncic gets passed over, but it’s clear the Kings are believers in Bagley’s potential and his fit as a pick-and-roll partner for last year’s lottery pick, De’Aaron Fox. This puts the Hawks in a very interesting position, as they can select Doncic or look to trade back.
If these reports are correct and Bagley is the pick at two, the Hawks will have nearly a quarter of the league on the phone trying to pry the third pick from them with hopes of landing Doncic. Atlanta has reason to listen to those offers, but with reports recently stating they’re fans of the Slovenian star, they might ultimately choose to hold onto their pick and take the reigning EuroLeague MVP.
