Kings Owners Wanted To Draft Marvin Bagley Over Luka Doncic: “Bagley Was A Modern-Day Big Who Could Run The Floor With De’Aaron Fox.”

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Credit: Fadeaway World

The ill-fated decision to not draft Luka Doncic with the second pick of the 2018 NBA Draft is something that has haunted the Sacramento Kings for the last few years. Watching the Dallas Mavericks head into their third consecutive playoffs while the Kings just ended year 16 of a playoff drought has to sting. 

However, the pick was clear to many even at the time. There have been many theories as to why the Slovenian wasn’t selected by the Kings, with the most widely accepted one being that Vlade Divac didn’t get along with Luka’s father and as a result, advised the Kings against selecting Doncic. 

However, it seems the decision was something that was made by the top brass. Vivek Ranadive, the owner of the Sacramento Kings believed Bagley to be a better fit for the Kings as compared to Doncic, who was another guard the Kings would have had to add around De’Aaron Fox.

The information revealed by the Sacramento Bee is pretty damning in their piece, where they also discuss the Kings missing out on a trade for Jordan Clarkson, who was then on the Cleveland Cavaliers and would be traded to the Utah Jazz. 

In terms of Doncic and Bagley, the Kings should rue missing out on picking a star like Doncic. Considering the three-guard lineup the Mavericks are playing with right now, surely someone could have figured out a way to make sure Fox and Doncic co-existed together.

Bagley’s tenure with the Kings was short and fraught with tensions from the start. He was traded to the Detroit Pistons this season and is hoping to have a career revival there. Meanwhile, Doncic is closing in on a third consecutive All-NBA First Team appearance as well as leading his team to homecourt advantage in the 2022 NBA Playoffs. 

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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