KEY POINTS

  • Marvin Bagley III will be out for at least four weeks
  • NBA teams are wary of Bagley due to his poor output and injury history
  • Bagley may not recover in time to help the Kings secure a playoffs seat.

The Sacramento Kings need all the help they can get from all healthy bodies even if their 2020-21 NBA campaign is not looking good.

Luke Walton suffered another blow when Marvin Bagley III injured his hand in a loss to the Charlotte Hornets last time, but the latest reports claim that he could still return this season.

Bagley suffered a fracture in his left hand, something that most initially thought was serious and would keep him out of action for the rest of the season.

But it appears he will not require surgery and just be sidelined for the next four weeks. The only problem seen here is that if the Kings have plans of at least snagging an NBA playoff seat, Walton will have to get something out of other players like Hassan Whiteside or Tyrese Haliburton.

With Bagley out, the Kings are missing 13.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game from the 22-year-old center. While those numbers could be easily covered, Walton needs to find that guy who can pick up the slack and do better. They are 5.5 points behind the Dallas Mavericks.

Beyond the season, it will be interesting if the injury of Bagley will factor in with his plans. The 6-foot-11 player is not on the protected list of the Kings, meaning he is a candidate for trade if some NBA team comes knocking.

No NBA club has come close to that although anything can happen.

For Bagley, his stock may have taken a blow with the recent injury. He has been having a woeful season, and word got out that the Kings are making him available in trade talks.

According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, there are only two players untouchable–De’Aaron Fox and Haliburton.

The second-overall pick of the 2018 NBA Draft has hardly shown improvement, a reason why some NBA teams may not be that anxious to get him.

But like other young players, the Arizona native could be worth investing in. Averaging only 25.5 minutes per game, the former Duke product could get more if he finds the right team to play for.

But for now, Bagley needs to understand that for him to gain traction, keeping himself healthy at all times is one of the primary requirements.

Marvin Bagley III
The New York Knicks also offered Kristaps Porzingis to the Sacramento Kings either for Marvin Bagley III or De'Aron Fox. Marvin Bagley III #35 of the Sacramento Kings reacts after making a shot against the Detroit Pistons at Golden 1 Center on January 10, 2019 in Sacramento, California. Getty Images/Ezra Shaw