Kings select Duke's Marvin Bagley III with 2nd overall pick

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - The Sacramento Kings have selected Duke forward Marvin Bagley III with the second overall pick in the NBA draft.

Bagley will be a welcome addition in Sacramento's frontcourt. The 6-foot-11 Bagley was AP's player of the year in the Atlantic Coast Conference during his only season at Duke. He averaged 21 points and 11.1 rebounds while shooting better than 60 percent and has the ability to consistently finish at the rim.

That is key for the Kings, who were inconsistent inside much of last season while finishing 27-55.

Sacramento general manager Vlade Divac had several options with the franchise's highest pick since the Kings grabbed Pervis Ellison with the top overall pick in 1989.

Missouri's Michael Porter Jr. and Real Madrid sensation Luka Doncic were linked to Sacramento in the weeks leading up to the draft. Both were intriguing for different reasons, but there were questions about Porter's health as well as concerns about Doncic's ability to carry over his international success to the NBA.

By contrast, Bagley is considered a safe pick who should help the Kings' inside scoring and rebounding.

"I'm going to be ready to come in and give it my all," Bagley said. "Effort's going to always be there. I'm excited. I can't wait to get out there and go to work."

Bagley was one of four players in Division I to average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in 2017. He joins a struggling franchise that hasn't made the playoffs since 2006.

Coach Dave Joerger's young team showed flashes at times in 2017 but there was never an established starting lineup and players were shuffled in and out.

Bagley played forward at Duke but could also get time at center in Joerger's system. The 19-year-old is more of a scoring threat than last year's starter, Willie Cauley-Stein, although both big men need more development on the defensive end.

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