The 2019 NBA draft just added a potential No. 1 pick.
Now, it subtracts one.
Marvin Bagley III reclassified to enroll at Duke for the upcoming season. He’ll be eligible to declare for the 2018 draft.
A 6-foot-11 big man, Bagley is skilled and athletic. He still must prove his toughness and motor, but playing for Duke should serve him well.
Bagley already 18, so he’d be a natural fit in the next draft.
Projecting the strength of a draft this far out is usually a fool’s errand. But Bagley, Michael Porter, Luka Doncic, Mohamed Bamba and DeAndre Ayton seem to form a strong group at the top of the 2018 class. That’s good news for teams likely to pick high like the Celtics, Hawks and Bulls.