[JoeWolf1]

Thanks to NBA TV I’ve actually got the chance to watch all the Summer League action this season, and Marvin Bagley is going to have a really tough time adjusting to NBA defenses. Like, really tough, but the thing is…a lot of his deficiencies can all be corrected.

The thing I like most about him is his constant effort. He’s shown high level effort, but it’s like no one ever taught him how to play defense correctly. He reacts to every pump fake, he’s extremely easily drawn out of position, and when he tries to recover, he often just fouls the crap out of the defender.

If you’re looking for rookie of the year honors for Bagley, don’t. I feel he’s going to have a hard time staying on the court during the first couple months of the season, but it’s not like he has a small wingspan or is undersized or outmatched athletically. All of these things can be taught, and now, unlike Duke, they can be a little more patient. At the NCAA level he was so good, you have to figure out a way on the fly to get him two work in your system and the zone was Coach K’s best effort. It didn’t do Marvin any favors, but they had 4 months to tie everything together.

Bagely is just so damn athletic, and really special in the way he runs the floor and the energy he brings. I really think he will struggle out of the gate, though. Dave Joerger is a good defensive coach, so I’m curious to see Marvin’s development, but his defensive IQ may be as low as any highly drafted big man I’ve seen in a while.

[joe2324Participant]

I didn’t notice the pump faking and other defensive lapss until you pointed it out. My money is on Donic to win ROY.  

[cominup7Participant]

inb4JahOkaforcomparison

[halfdecayedParticipant]

 Well the Kings drafted so hes probably going to struggle

[RUDEBOY-Participant]

 This guy would be an incoming freshman if he hadn’t reclassified. So of course it’s gonna take time for him to adjust to nba level competition.In his first game he had De’Aaron Fox running the show, who got him a ton of easy buckets. I think he has a bright future, but like a lot of players he needs work on his game. For 1 thing he needs to work on his right hand,he’s too dependent on his left hand which makes his moves predictable. 

[EndlessknightParticipant]

The whole “would be an incoming freshman” in so overused. They guy red shirted earlier and just jumped back up to his right grade.

[SubZeroParticipant]

Yeah his defense has been pretty horrible but he’s actually gotten some nice blocks in the first 2 games that I watched, so it’s encouraging that he shows some good instincts as a rim protector. He’s looked a little outmanned without Fox to help him out but I think he’ll get better as the season goes on because he won’t be the focus of most teams. He’s got a bright future for sure, if nothing else than for his work ethic, hustle, and raw athleticism. He and Harry Giles could be a pretty solid duo in the frontcourt

[RUDEBOY-Participant]

 Yeah he’s so relentless and has a great motor. Definitely needs to work on his upper body 

[JoeWolf1]

Yeah, a lot of you guys commented about Fox being out, and you’re totally right. The Kings really had it in their game plan to push the pace with playing Fox and Mason together, and it really worked with their mobile big men. They were even doing some trapping in the half court on defense as well.

When Fox went out, they went almost entirely to half court sets and have struggled to get out on the break.

[MopgrassParticipant]

 The Kings are going to fun. Yes, the Kings. They have actual promise and they’ll be running full spread. They won’t win a ton, but it will be a cool development year for a team I’ve never liked. 

[Andv1 WaitingParticipant]

 Find him the right spot and let him go get it…He has a high motor(sort of like a Faried type player) Yet the tools of a Wiggins or Josh Jackson(Good length and bounce)..He seems to want to get after it so he should do alright but I think he may want to work on those fundamentals and defense to make him a more complete player though.

[kobyzParticipant]

 He should model his game after giannis, they very similar raw prospects at the same age…

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 Well. He does have a small wingspan, which probably limits his ceiling as a rim protector and may force him to play at pf primarily instead of center. But the rest of his physical tools are very good. His mobility and ability to move his feet on the perimeter could make him a very versatile and switchable defender in time, but his instincts are awful right now, and coach k didn’t really do his development any favors by playing primarily zone. 

On offense, he plays hard and gets off the floor as fast as just about any player I’ve seen. But his skill set is pretty raw right now. He shows some developing range on his shot but it’s not really consistent yet. His post moves and face up game is limited and he is extremely left hand dominant. His dominance in college was basically a product of him being bigger and more athletic than the players he was going against. But when he faces someone who can at least sort of match him physically, and he has to rely on skill, he can get into trouble. 

But I think he’s a hard worker with a good attitude so he’ll figure it out and I have very few doubts he’ll be a very good player in the league for a long time. Whether or not he will justify being taken second in a loaded draft, idk.

 

[ndbigdaveParticipant]

Bagley has shown almost exactly what I expected, and his ceiling is still incredibly high as he physically matures and works on his game.

Bagley is incredibly left-hand dominant which NBA defenses will key on, however, he is lethal with his spin moves and runners, he also has a hook shot. Those types of shots, even if you know they are coming are tough to stop. Bagley does need to develop a right hand and more counter moves but those are teachable and often time come with age. He is already playing hard and his athleticism can cover up issues he has with post move refinement.

Defensively he is what I expected, he is a young post player who is used to just swatting shots and being more athletic than his guy. I was generally pleased with his lateral movement and while his instincts cause him to want to block shots (biting on pump fakes) this is taught as well. Bagley has been blocking shots at a higher rate (which I expected) because he was on the wing/corner as a part of Duke’s zone – now that he is closer to the post and can help from the weak side I expect him to block more shots and should be an adequate rim protector.

Bagley needs refinement, but most 19-year old’s do, especially those who will be banging in the post where physical development is an important as anything. Bagley already has shown that he can grab a rebound and initiate the offense, has shown he will take and make the NBA 3 (though there is plenty of work to be done here as there were some bad misses), he has blocked shots and finished some hard, contested shots at the rim.

With physical maturation and refinement, Bagley can be a 6’11” big man who boards, blocks and finishes at the rim while beating guys off the dribble and even being a threat from the three-point line. He should be a good one.

[whiteflashParticipant]

 His motor and rebounding instincts (particularly on the offensive glass) remind me of a modern Moses Malone. Think the kid’s gonna be a stud.

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Never was sold on Bagley. Had him behind Ayton, Bamba and Jackson toss up between him and Carter. With that being said he is young alot bigger then people give him credit for athletic for his size and skilled. 

At this stage he seems to lack savvy play and is real predictable, projects his next move to more experienced defender. Hes also a bit awkward and uncoordinated, throws up alot of forced shots.

 He should be fine though he has a dominate mentality and a nonstop work ethic. Maybe giving off too much energy right now just needs to slow down and let his mind catch up to his muscles if that makes sense.

 

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