Tom Haberstroh identifies next step Kings' Marvin Bagley needs to take

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The Kings had high hopes for Marvin Bagley when they selected him with the No. 2 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.

And while the 20-year-old has put up solid numbers in a little over a season, it's reasonable to say that the Kings expected a bit more of an impact from the Duke product.

After all, Luka Doncic, taken one spot after Bagley, is an MVP candidate for the Dallas Mavericks this season.

But Bagley is developing at his own pace and is coming back from a hand injury that cost him 22 games.

During the Kings' 110-102 loss to the Hornets on Tuesday, NBC Sports NBA Insider Tom Haberstroh joined Doug Christie and Grant Napear and was asked about what he wants to see from the young big man.

"I think he just has to continue to be strong in the paint and try to shoot above everybody and use that strength," Haberstroh said. "So I think that's the next step for him as a player is being able to power through guys.

"This team is 30th in the NBA in free throw attempts. Marvin Bagley, I think is one of those guys as he gets older in this league, he has to be able to power through guys. Cody Zeller is a wall, but that's something I think ... he's got the touch from the perimeter, but going into the post, getting those freebies is going to be the next step."

Bagley finished with 14 points and seven rebounds in 22 minutes off the bench Tuesday in Charlotte. In five games this season, he's averaging 13.2 points and 7.2 rebounds.

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Haberstroh identified two dominant big men that Bagley can try to mirror his growth after.

"He's still 20 years old performing at a high level based on skill alone," Haberstroh said. "But really, once he gets stronger in this league like Giannis [Antetokounmpo], Joel Embiid, where he got really strong out there, he's going to be a problem."

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