Bagley is showing through his evolving game that he should be brought back next season.
The Dallas Mavericks have to be impressed with what they've gotten out of reserve center Marvin Bagley III since his arrival in the Anthony Davis-to-Washington trade.
In 21 games with Dallas (three starts), Bagley is posting 11.4 points and 7.1 rebounds on over 60 percent shooting. Those per-game averages are more than he had been producing with the Wizards at the beginning of the season.
And Wednesday's showing at the Phoenix Suns was a glimpse into how Bagley's game can evolve, potentially encouraging the Mavericks to think about bringing him back next season.
Bagley knocked down three 3-pointers in six attempts as the Mavs fell to 25-55 on the season. The 6-10 No. 2 overall pick in 2018 scored 20 points for the third time in his last four outings. While he never turned into the franchise talent many thought he'd become after a one-and-done year at Duke, this is quality high-end production that he's shown is possible with the right fit.
Mavs head coach Jason Kidd likes what he sees, and he wants to see a lot of it.
"We try to get him to shoot more," Kidd said. "He’s comfortable shooting the three. I think that’s the next step for him is taking more threes, and hopefully be consistent because that just gives more space for everyone who’s on the floor."
Against the Suns, one of Bagley's triples brought Dallas within four with just eight minutes remaining. It was reminiscent of how the Mavs trailed big in the first quarter to the Clippers before eventually taking the lead in the third off of a string of 3-pointers.
Kidd notes how comeback possibilities like that weren't as common back when he was in the league.
"You look at just the three [point] attempts – you’ve got teams that are getting up over 50 – so there’s never a safe lead," Kidd said. "It used to be a 15-point lead was safe back when we played. But now you look at 20-point [leads], you go on a run and that lead can disappear in a heartbeat and you can flip the score."
These minutes from Bagley have come without Dereck Lively II in the lineup as he heals a foot surgery that's kept him off the floor for practically the entire season. Dallas' other rim-running big man, Daniel Gafford, has also been hobbled throughout the year.
But Bagley's ability to stretch the floor and hit shots from the outside is a trait neither Lively nor Gafford provide.
"Shooting shots that come to me," Bagley said about what he focuses on outside of the painted area.
"I work on my shot. Just being able to go translate that and trust my work, taking whatever the defense gives me. Being able to pop and spread the floor, that helps the whole team space it. I have confidence in my shot so I don't hesitate when I shoot them."
Bagley is an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and with just two games remaining on the schedule, he's picking up his play at just the right time. This type of endorsement from Kidd and the Mavericks could suggest that Bagley will have a place on next year's roster if he's interested in re-signing.
"Just let it fly with confidence. That's been my mindset since I got here," Bagley said. "The coaches have been telling me to shoot them and they want me to shoot them."
He can bet he'll get more and more looks from the outside if that is the case.
