Teams have until 3 p.m. PST to strike a deal with the 2018 rookie class.
It seems another chapter in the Marvin Bagley III story is closing for Sacramento, and at the slowest pace. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Kings have no plans to extend Bagley before Monday’s rookie contract extension deadline, meaning Bagley will become one of two former top-five picks from the 2018 Draft class to not be offered an extension from their respective teams.
Thus far, the Class of 2018 has been paid. The big names began inking deals this summer to the tune of:
Luka Dončić — five years, $207.1 million
Trae Young — five years, $172.5 million
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — 5 years, $172.5 million
Michael Porter Jr. — five years, $172.5 million
Jaren Jackson Jr. — four years, $105 million
Mikal Bridges — four years, $90 million
Wendell Carter Jr. — four years, $50 million
Robert Williams — four years, $48 million
This is the first rookie class to reach over $1 billion in their first round of extensions. A few big names remain on the extension market, such as Phoenix Suns big man Deandre Ayton, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Collin Sexton and Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges.
If nothing changes between now and the deadline, Bagley will become a restricted free agent in 2022. The former No. 2 overall pick has made it clear this preseason that despite past drama and an offseason where he probably thought he’d never wear a Kings uniform again, he is ‘excited’ to build toward something in Sacramento.
What that something is? We have yet to see.
Bagley will most likely not see the end of the season with Sacramento, and if he does, it will in all likelihood be his last. While they wait for the right trade or even the end of season, it’s imperative the Kings use Bagley when he’s healthy, i.e.: capitalizing on the talent that is there, but hasn’t been unlocked in his four seasons in Sacramento.