Marvin Bagley's emergence for the Washington Wizards has been one the few bright spots in the DMV this season.
For a team competing for the top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, it's clear where the Wizards sit when it comes to the NBA standings and incase you didn't catch on, they're at the bottom.
Washington's struggles to start the year have been due to a variety of reasons, but arguably the biggest factors in the teams issues have come at the expense of injuries and underwhelming play.
Outside of Alex Sarr and Kyshawn George's sophomore leap's, the Wizards didn't seem to have too much going for them.
However, when the injury bug began to plague the Wizards, head coach Brian Keefe was forced to give his bench a second look and to his surprise, Washington found a hidden gem hiding in plain sight.
Marvin Bagley may be playing his way out of Washington
Bagley's decision to return to the team that traded him away last season was a bit of a surprise in free agency this offseason, but it gave the former No. 2 overall pick the opportunity to prove that he could be an adequate big man when given the opportunity.
With Sarr banged up, Bagley has stepped up to the plate numerous times, and his consecutive double-doubles in the team's last two games have proven that the young forward still has plenty left in the tank.
Bagley's emergence has shown that in the right situation, he could be a viable starter and at worst an adequate backup big.
Typically, the Wizards finding a hidden gem would be a major win for the organization and while it still is, Washington is forced to deal with a problem they never thought they'd have to face when they entered the season.
The Duke product's strong play has almost certainly drawn attention from frontcourt needy teams around the league and with trade season officially upon us, Washington may be forced to field calls for their big man.
Obviously, the Wizards likely have no plans of moving on from Bagley, especially after his strong play over the last few games, but in a team stuck in the midst of a rebuild with the light at the end of the tunnel seemingly fading, they may be forced to listen to offers if teams start calling.
All that to say, if the Wizards are presented with a deal they can't say no to, it may all come courtesy of Bagley's strong play leading him out of Washington.