Marvin Bagley III, Wizards Reportedly Agree to 1-Year Contract in NBA Free Agency

Marvin Bagley III has become something of a journeyman in his NBA career. Next stop: Washington.

The Washington Wizards reportedly signed Bagley to a one-year contract on Thursday, according to Shams Charania of ESPN. Bagley will return to the Wizards after being traded to the Memphis Grizzlies at last season's trade deadline.

Bagley, 26, was the No. 2 pick of the Sacramento Kings in the 2018 NBA draft, a move that in hindsight was one of the bigger mistakes in franchise history. The next three picks were Luka Dončić, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Trae Young, respectively, while Mikal Bridges went No. 10, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander went No. 11 and Jalen Brunson slipped into the second round.

Bagley, meanwhile, averaged 13.5 points and 7.4 rebounds in parts of four seasons with the Kings and 12 points and 5.9 rebounds in parts of three seasons with the Detroit Pistons, but he struggled to see the court in the 2024-25 campaign.

The issue for Bagley has been the lack of a true position. He doesn't offer rim-protection or great defense as a center (O.6 BPG in his career), and he doesn't offer perimeter shooting as a 4 (29 percent from three in his career). In the modern NBA, that makes it tough to find an effective role for him.

This past season, he averaged just 4.4 points and 2.7. boards in 8.5 minutes per game between the Wizards and Grizzlies, shooting 51.9 percent from the field and 15.8 percent from three.

Bagley brings solid athleticism and size to the court and is a plus rebounder who can score in the paint. Washington clearly sees something him and are giving him a shot despite ongoing questions about his ideal role.