The Minnesota Timberwolves currently have an obvious need at power forward. There aren’t too many options for them in free agency, and one of their rivals, the Denver Nuggets, took one off the table on Wednesday night by signing Marvin Bagley III.
The Timberwolves have had quite the rivalry recently with the Nuggets. The two clubs have met up three of the last four years in the postseason, with Denver advancing the first time, but Minnesota getting their revenge each of the last two meetings. That includes last year’s six-game series win in the opening round that included Jaden McDaniels talking trash about the Nuggets’ lack of defense.
The rivalry is expected to continue next season, even if they don’t once again meet in the playoffs in what has become a near-annual occurrence.
Bagley joins biggest rival of Wolves
The second overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, Bagley has agreed to a one-year deal with the Nuggets. The 27-year-old has bounced around the league, and Denver will become his sixth NBA team.
While Bagley hasn’t lived up to his draft status (the Sacramento Kings took him over Luka Doncic), he is coming off a solid year. The eight-year pro began the year with the Washington Wizards before being dealt to the Dallas Mavericks in the trade that brought Anthony Davis to Washington, D.C. In 60 total outings for both clubs, Bagley posted averages of 10.5 points and 6.1 rebounds in 20.0 minutes while shooting 61.8 percent from the field.
While terms of the contract have yet to be announced, all Denver could afford is veteran’s minimum contracts. Bagley would have fit in nicely on the Timberwolves roster.
Listed at 6-foot-10, Bagley could have filled in to play minutes at the four for a Minnesota team that needs capable players at the position. Rudy Gobert and Joan Beringer are strictly centers. Julius Randle and Naz Reid have been traded away.Â
What makes it doubly worse is that Bagley has gone to their biggest rival. It weakens the power forward free-agent group even more. In my opinion, the best one to get that the Wolves might be able to afford is Kenrich Williams, formerly of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
In the end, I don’t expect Tim Connelly to allow there to be such a gaping hole at power forward come the regular season opener. We know he certainly isn't shy about making transactions if he believes they will help the team. For now, we wait to see what he and the front office have up their sleeves.
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