After trading Julius Randle and Naz Reid, the Minnesota Timberwolves need a power forward. They could fill this void in free agency with access to the taxpayer mid-level exception or via the trade market by re-routing Josh Green. If Minnesota opts to go the free agency path, Marvin Bagley III stands out to me as a realistic option.
Sure, I'd love to see them land someone like Sandro Mamukelashvili or Dean Wade, but those players might be outside of Minnesota's price range. Other options, such as Harrison Barnes or Kenrich Williams (if his team option is declined), intrigue me. Along with these players, Bagley is one of the Wolves' most realistic free agent options.
Bagley is perhaps best known for being selected one pick before Luka Doncic, which gives him the undesirable reputation as a draft bust. And while he hasn't reached the star potential that the Sacramento Kings thought he would back in 2018, the Duke product has quietly become a legitimate NBA contributor.
Marvin Bagley is an intriguing target for the Timberwolves in free agency
A quality contributor is all the Wolves need at the power forward position. Despite his slim frame, I think Jaden McDaniels can play sizable minutes at the four. However, it would certainly be nice to have more of a traditional power forward (likely off the bench).
Bagley is coming off a rock-solid season with the Washington Wizards and Dallas Mavericks, in which he averaged 10.5 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists with 61.8/46.2/66 shooting splits. On the surface level, his 3-point shooting is a primary reason to sign him, but it's essential to note that he shot fewer than 0.9 3-pointers per game last season.
Still, he can provide some level of floor spacing relief (which is needed with Naz Reid gone). Bagley is also a solid interior finisher, especially as a roll man, and has solid comfort with the ball in his hands. He also offers value as a rebounder and is a much-improved defender.
Listen, he's no Rudy Gobert, but Bagley's rim protection has gotten a lot better in recent years, which could lend him to playing the five at times. Notably, per Basketball Index, Bagley ranked in the 94th percentile for rim deterrence and in the 92nd percentile for rim protection this past season. Bagley also ranked in the 95th percentile for help-defense, which makes him a quality roamer. He pairs this with solid mobility to switch on to the perimeter if needed.
As a power forward who can make a positive impact on both sides of the ball, Bagley is a worthy target for Minnesota with the taxpayer mid-level. When it's all said and done, Bagley could be the Wolves' most realistic option in free agency to fill their power forward void.
