Former Second Overall Pick Re-Signs with the Wizards
This past season, former second overall pick Marvin Bagley III was traded from the Washington Wizards to the Memphis Grizzlies in part of a three-team trade. Memphis finished the season eighth in the Western Conference at 48-34. They lost to the Golden State Warriors but defeated the Dallas Mavericks in the Play-In Tournament before taking on the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first round of the NBA Playoffs. The Grizzlies packed up early as they were swept by the eventual Western Conference champion Thunder. Now a free agent, it’s been reported by Shams Charania that Bagley III has signed a one-year deal with the Wizards.
The Sacramento Kings drafted Bagley III with the second overall pick during the 2018 NBA Draft. He averaged 14 points a game during his first three seasons in Sacramento, however, Bagley III only played in 13 and 43 games during his sophomore and third seasons in the league. During February 2022, the 26-year-old power forward was traded to the Detroit Pistons in part of a four-team trade that sent Donte DiVincenzo, Trey Lyles, and Josh Jackson to the Kings. Almost two years later, the big man was traded once again, this time to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Danilo Galinari and Mike Muscala. Bagley III played just 24 and 19 games with the Wizards during the 2023 and 2024 NBA seasons. A year later, he was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies alongside Johnny Davis and draft considerations in a three-team trade involving Marcus Smart.
In 31 games with the Wizards and Grizzlies this season, Bagley III recorded about four points and three rebounds in nine minutes on the floor a night. During Memphis’ 51-point loss during Game One of the first round against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the 26-year-old big man put up 17 points on eight of eight shooting from the field alongside five rebounds and two steals. With the Wizards, Bagley III hopes to have more minutes and produce more on the court than he has over the past several seasons. It will be interesting to see if he has what it takes to take his game to the next level for Washington.