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BREAKING: Nuggets Agree To 1-Year Deal With Former No. 2 Pick, Add 'Critical' Frontcourt Depth Behind Nikola Jokić
The Denver Nuggets just finished a highly disappointing season during which they lost in the first round of the NBA playoffs to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Overall, they have failed to reach the Western Conference finals since winning the NBA championship in 2023.
Some expected them to shake up their roster this summer, but so far, that hasn’t happened. Instead, they made an under-the-radar move on Wednesday night to strengthen their bench.
Marvin Bagley III Gives Nuggets More Depth and Optionality
Per ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Nuggets have agreed to a one-year contract with big man Marvin Bagley III. He will augment their frontcourt behind three-time MVP Nikola Jokić.
“Free agent center Marvin Bagley III has agreed to a one-year deal with the Denver Nuggets, sources tell ESPN,” Charania wrote on X. “A critical frontcourt addition for the Nuggets.”
Bagley, who is 6-foot-10 and 235 pounds, is mostly a center, although he has logged some minutes at the four spot during his eight seasons in the league. He has career averages of 11.8 points and 6.5 rebounds in 22.0 minutes per game, and this past season, he averaged 10.5 points and 6.1 boards in 20.0 minutes a night.
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The No. 2 pick in the 2018 draft, Bagley isn’t a shot-blocker, but he is fairly athletic and quick, and he has a nice offensive touch near the basket. He will give Nuggets coach David Adelman another option at the backup five spot other than Jonas Valančiūnas, who is more of a lumbering big man.
One has to wonder if this could open up the possibility of trading Jonas Valančiūnas, who played 13.4 minutes per game during the regular season but was on the court for just 6.3 minutes a night during the 2026 playoffs.
According to at least one report, the Nuggets could waive Jonas Valančiūnas if they don’t end up trading him. He has made a two-year commitment to Žalgiris Kaunas, a team in his native Lithuania, if he is released by Denver, per BasketNews.
Nuggets Still Face Big Decisions
Denver may not be far away from becoming a championship contender again, but it has quite a bit of work to do.
Forward Peyton Watson, who blossomed as a significant contributor this past season, is a restricted free agent. The Nuggets have to decide whether to invest in keeping him or to let him go and stick with starters Cameron Johnson and Christian Braun.
They’re also trying to secure a long-term contract with Jokić, whose current deal runs through 2028. There have been whispers that he could leave Denver, but he hasn’t given any indication that he may want to do so.
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