The Washington Wizards had an injury bug plague their already rough start to the season. Tre Johnson, Alex Sarr, and Bilal Coulibaly are the big names; however, the majority of the roster has missed at least a few games due to injury. With that, Marvin Bagley III has risen to the challenge for the Wizards, and his trade value should see a rise as the season slowly approaches that fateful trade deadline.
1 Wizard Who Upped His Trade Market Amid Team Injuries
Bagley made a big impact for Washington when Sarr went down with a right adductor strain. The Wizards would end up winning two of those six games, with Bagley being a significant part of both victories.
Better Than Last Year
Bagley has played significantly better than last year, slowly rebuilding his name after his worst season in the league. He’s currently averaging higher numbers across almost every category and shooting a career high from the field at 61.9%. Additionally, he’s shooting 54.5% from three; while the volume isn’t there, he’s certainly proved he’s been working on his outside shot.
With Sarr back, his minutes will most likely dip once the sophomore is fully healthy. With that being said, no one can deny that Bagley has played much better in his third go-around with Washington than in his second.
His Starting Numbers
Bagley has been coming off the bench for the majority of the season, starting just seven games on the year. However, he has shown that he can be a valuable asset to the Wizards’ starting lineup. Over those seven games, Bagley has averaged 13.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 28 minutes per game.
In his last start before Sarr’s return, Bagley dropped a season-high 23 points and 14 rebounds against the Indiana Pacers. In the game before that, he had 15 points and 13 rebounds against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Even against the Milwaukee Bucks, Bagley put on a show. He dropped 22 points and eight rebounds on 11-16 shooting while holding Myles Turner to just nine points on 30% from the field.
While he may not be starting anymore, Washington is now fully aware that Bagley can replicate Sarr’s output. Given the injuries the Wizards have already suffered, he could even pair with Sarr in the lineup. Not only does this benefit Bagley, but his value in the trade market has risen quite a bit.
Bagley’s New Value
With better numbers this year, Bagley has proven that he can be a significant piece to a contending roster. Additionally, several other players could be among the trade talks closer to the deadline. Pairing Bagley with a name like Cam Whitmore or Bub Carrington could yield a significant return.
The Last Word
While it’s all speculation, Marvin Bagley III could find himself in a trade made by the Wizards to another city to end the year. Last season, the Wizards moved him to Memphis in February in the Marcus Smart deal before resigning him this offseason. It could be considered unwise, but Washington could be forced to move him if a deal presents itself with a young prospect or a pick in the upcoming draft.
Featured Image: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
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