After a long wait, the Denver Nuggets made their first move in free agency, adding to their frontcourt depth.
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Nuggets are signing veteran big man Marvin Bagley III to a one-year deal.
Free agent center Marvin Bagley III has agreed to a one-year deal with the Denver Nuggets, sources tell ESPN. A critical frontcourt addition for the Nuggets. pic.twitter.com/enHBVxgfYl
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 2, 2026
Bagley, 27, spent time last season with the Washington Wizards and Dallas Mavericks in rebuilding situations but averaged impressive numbers anyway at 20.0 minutes, 10.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 0.7 blocks per game. His best skill is his scoring efficiency with great touch, as the lefty maintains a 66.1% True Shooting mark, one of the highest in the NBA at any position.
Standing at 6’10” and 235 pounds, Bagley is slightly undersized for the center position but not quite mobile and rangy enough for power forward consistently. He averages fewer than one three-point attempt per game which limits his potential as a floor spacer, though he shot 46.2% from three on 52 attempts last year (he shot 359 two-pointers by comparison).
Bagley has bounced around the NBA after being the number two pick in the 2018 NBA Draft to the Sacramento Kings ahead of Luka Doncic. Things didn’t work out there, and Bagley has started just 72 games since being traded by the Kings four years ago. He’s no longer considered a starter at the NBA level in large part because of a tough fit in starting lineups and defensive limitations.
And yet, the Nuggets won’t be asking him for major defensive production and rim protection in his minutes. They want energy, athleticism, scoring capability, and a team first mindset. By all accounts, Bagley can provide that at backup center, or at least be a part of the solution.
This was the first free agency move the Nuggets made this offseason, and it certainly won’t be the last. One important factor to consider is Jonas Valanciunas, Denver’s incumbent backup center last season who struggled to stay on the floor. It’s expected that the Nuggets either trade or waive Valanciunas in the next few days to free up salary cap breathing room.
Bagley is signing a one-year deal at minimum contract level, meaning the Nuggets shouldn’t expect the world from him. He’s an option to deploy behind Nikola Jokic, and he’s certainly a new option. Previous backup centers have ranged from Jusuf Nurkic (sorry Bosnia), Mason Plumlee, Isaiah Hartenstein, JaVale McGee, DeMarcus Cousins, DeAndre Jordan, Zeke Nnaji, and Valanciunas.
Bagley is undersized compared to those players, but the NBA continues to play faster and faster. Bagley’s expected role will be no more than 15 minutes per game behind Jokic. Perhaps he could play next to Jokic at times and operate in the dunker spot, and if the Nuggets can add a player to exceed 15 minutes per game on a minimum, that’s a great addition.
Is Bagley a major addition? No. Does he bring a bit more clarity and stability to Denver’s frontcourt? Absolutely. Denver can still add additional depth to the frontcourt if they so choose, but Bagley is likely to enter camp as the expected backup center.