Marvin Bagley III is heading back to Washington on a one-year deal with the Wizards, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania on Thursday.
It’s a return to familiar territory for the 26-year-old big man, who played for the Wizards last season before being shipped off to the Memphis Grizzlies at the February trade deadline.
Bagley’s NBA journey has been a bumpy one. The Kings picked him second overall in the 2018 draft – a decision that’s haunted the franchise ever since.
Who went after him? Only future superstars Luka Doncic, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Trae Young with the next three picks. Mikal Bridges and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander weren’t far behind at 10th and 11th.
Talk about a missed opportunity.
Standing 6-foot-10, Bagley brings good size and athleticism to the court. But his game has some serious holes – he’s not much of a shot-blocker, struggles to box out for rebounds, and can’t stretch the floor with outside shooting.
These limitations have turned him into something of an NBA nomad.
Over seven seasons, he’s bounced between four teams: Sacramento, Detroit, Washington, and Memphis. In 289 career games (129 starts), he’s averaged 12 points and 6.5 rebounds in 22.4 minutes per game while shooting a respectable 51.8% from the field.
Wizards Bring Back Familiar Face
The Wizards needed frontcourt help after trading away Kelly Olynyk to San Antonio, making Bagley a logical target in free agency.
His previous stint in Washington wasn’t bad. Across 43 games (16 starts) with the Wizards, Bagley put up 9.6 points and 5.8 rebounds per game while shooting a solid 57% from the floor.
Washington first acquired him before the 2024 trade deadline in a package that included Isaiah Livers and a second-round pick.
But the relationship didn’t last long. Before last season’s trade deadline, the Wizards included Bagley in a multi-team deal that brought them Marcus Smart and a first-round pick. They later used that pick to trade down and select Will Riley in the 2025 draft.
Will Bagley stick around longer this time? That’s the big question.
The Wizards’ roster is getting crowded. They now have 15 players on standard contracts, plus Richaun Holmes and Justin Champagnie. Holmes’ $13.28 million deal is mostly non-guaranteed (only about $250,000 is guaranteed), while Champagnie’s contract is fully non-guaranteed.
