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2018 Orlando Magic NBA Draft Preview: Marvin Bagley’s promise and struggle

By Philip Rossman-Reich

DURHAM, NC - DECEMBER 30: Marvin Bagley III #35 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts after dunking against the Florida State Seminoles during their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NC - DECEMBER 30: Marvin Bagley III #35 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts after dunking against the Florida State Seminoles during their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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The Bad

If the story of Marvin Bagley III were all about offense, he might very well be the No. 1 pick. He is an impressive player on that end of the floor. He seemingly has all the tools anyone could want. And might even be able to transcend his outside shooting in a NBA that demands it even from its post players.

But as good as Bagley might be on offense, his defense needs that much work.

Despite his athleticism and length, Bagley was never able to put things together defensively. He was not a good rim protector and struggled to move his feet laterally.

The Duke Blue Devils went to a zone defense for the majority of their season. Coach Mike Krzyzewski and his disciples are famous for how much he loathes turning to zone defenses.

It seemed this decision was partially an effort to hide Bagley and his defensive flaws. Even then, it seemed like teams targeted Bagley on the defensive end. They picked him out and attacked him on that end.

What might be worse is that despite his fight and nose for the ball off the offensive glass, he does not show the same effort and fight on the defensive end. There are times when he just simply looks lost defensively. He was unable to make the right rotations or be in the right spot defensively.

It was a major concern for him and his development. Bagley has these immense physical gifts that he is able to apply on the offensive end, but cannot seem to bring them to bear on the defensive end.

It leads to perhaps the biggest question regarding Bagley. What position will he play?

Centers in the modern NBA almost are required to be rim protectors. Increasingly they need to have the defensive mobility to defend the perimeter and switch onto guards.

Bagley has all the athleticism to accomplish these things. There is no reason he should not have these abilities. And maybe that is the faith a coaching staff can have to teach him these things. But there was little indication Krzyzewski could instill those principles in him in his lone year at Duke.

At 6-foot-11, Bagley should have the size of a center. But his poor rim protection and defense project him out as a 4. But if he is a 4, he has to develop a more consistent outside shot.

In many ways, Bagley is the perfect modern center — a rim runner and athlete. In others, he seems like a dinosaur. A player better suited to the game as it was a decade ago than it is now.

That poor defense looms awfully large still in any case. It has the potential to blow up any potential fit for Bagley in the NBA.