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Marvin Bagley’s reclassification ups Sixers’ chances of drafting a star in 2018

By Christopher Kline

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 05: Marvin Bagley, Jr., the top high school recruit in the class of 2018, looks on during a Drew League game at Los Angeles Southwest College on August 5th, 2017. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 05: Marvin Bagley, Jr., the top high school recruit in the class of 2018, looks on during a Drew League game at Los Angeles Southwest College on August 5th, 2017. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Marvin Bagley committed to Duke University while reclassifying to the 2018 NBA Draft class. That could inadvertently benefit the Philadelphia 76ers.

The 2018 NBA Draft class is unique. While it lacks the depth of the 2017 class, the talent located towards the top is arguably even more impressive than the prospects that graced the draft this past June.

Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers /

Philadelphia 76ers

That upper-level talent was added to in a big way on Monday evening, as Marvin Bagley III committed to Duke while reclassifying to the 2017 recruiting class — which makes him eligible for the draft in 2018. Bagley has shot up to No. 1 on many big boards, while his decision to join Duke has transformed the Blue Devils into heavy national championship favorites.

The Philadelphia 76ers likely won’t be in the running for Bagley. Assuming the Lakers don’t hit rock bottom, their pick will either convey to Boston or be given to the Sixers outside of the top five. Philadelphia feels playoff-bound.

While it’s entirely too early to project draft positioning, Bagley is somebody who is almost assured a top three spot. There’s always room for error, but we haven’t seen a big with Bagley’s combination of talent and athleticism is quite some time — and any significant fallout feels virtually implausible given his past resume.

Putting stock in the Drew League is a near-pointless endeavor, but Bagley has shown he can make plays against NBA size and athletes this offseason. He has the defensive chops needed to thrive under modern schemes, while his offensive game has expanded significantly over the past year.

Michael Porter Jr., Luka Doncic and DeAndre Ayton will still be discussed in the No. 1 pick discussion, and Porter has a very real shot, but Bagley is a tier above the rest as it currently stands.

That’s not necessarily the part that affects the Sixers, though. Philadelphia isn’t going to grab Bagley, as neither their prospective draft placement nor their team needs align with the 18-year-old big man. But Bagley does add another top talent to this year’s class, which pushes the other high-lottery talents further back in the class.

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Aside from Porter, the remainder of the top seven players feels fairly open. Ayton and Doncic have been early favorites amongst scouts, but they’re still flawed. Robert Williams and Mo Bamba are other bigs who’ll receive top five looks, while Miles Bridges has been a commonly-mentioned name in many circles.

If the Lakers pick lands in that No. 6-to-10 range, the talent the Sixers’ receive — even if it’s another big — could be significantly higher than it was prior to Bagley’s reclassification. That’s the impact a single, top flight recruit can have on the dynamics of a given draft.

In an ideal world, the Sixers would be a better position to add talent on the perimeter, but this year’s class may not permit. Even with their prior experiences, there’s a point at which talent trumps fit. This year’s class features a lot of bigs who are irrefutably more talented than the best guards.

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The Sixers still have a chance to add yet another high-end prospect, and Bagley more than helped that cause.