The Washington Wizards are set to sign free agent Marvin Bagley III to a one-year contract, a move reported by Shams Charania of ESPN. This signing appears strategic for the Wizards, especially after they traded Kelly Olynyk and now find themselves with only one player over 6’9″, second-year center Alex Sarr.
Interestingly, this signing comes full circle, as the Wizards recently traded Bagley to the Grizzlies during a complex deal that saw them acquire Marcus Smart and a future first-round pick. Initially brought into the fold ahead of the 2024 trade deadline along with Isaiah Livers and a second-round draft choice, Bagley has also seen a fair amount of playing time with Washington, featuring in 43 games with an average of 9.6 points and 5.8 rebounds.
However, the dynamics of the Wizards’ roster present challenges. With 15 players on standard contracts, the team faces a potential crunch. Richaun Holmes and Justin Champagnie are also on standard deals, with Holmes having a contract mostly non-guaranteed and Champagnie’s contract in a non-guaranteed status. Should Bagley’s contract be non-guaranteed, the Wizards might streamline their roster by letting go of him, Holmes, and potentially Champagnie, even though it would be unexpected due to Champagnie’s recent performance where he started 31 games and averaged 8.8 points.
If Bagley and Holmes do not secure a spot on the opening-night roster, the Wizards would face the prospect of starting a season with two players shorter than Sarr as their tallest options, in addition to George and Coulibaly, who are both under 6’9″.
This move illustrates the Wizards’ effort to bolster their frontcourt and navigate their complicated roster situation in a continually evolving team landscape. Further developments on the roster and decisions regarding Bagley’s standing will follow in the days to come.