Following a breakout NBA comeback season in 2024-25 after years abroad, power forward Guerschon Yabusele ditched the Philadelphia 76ers in favor of a two-year, $11.3 million free agent deal with the New York Knicks this past summer.
While the 20-8 Knicks have thrived so far this season, the 30-year-old has cratered in a bench role. Across 26 healthy games, the 6-foot-7 vet has been averaging just 3.0 points on .394/.306/.600 shooting splits and 2.2 rebounds per, as his minutes have been slashed by head coach Mike Brown from 27.1 with Philadelphia to a lowly 9.6.
James L. Edwards III of The Athletic reports that New York would be moving on from the $5.5 million it owes Yabusele this season.
Edwards predicts that one interesting, affordable name the Knicks could look to add in a trade could be reformed former draft bust Marvin Bagley III, now with the Washington Wizards.
The Sacramento Kings selected the 7-foot journeyman with the No. 2 pick out of Memphis in what turned out to be a loaded 2018 NBA Draft.
Bagley was drafted ahead of five-time All-NBA First Team Los Angeles Lakers guard/forward Luka Doncic (chosen with the No. 3 pick by the Atlanta Hawks but traded to the Dallas Mavericks on draft night), Defensive Player of the Year Memphis Grizzlies power forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (No. 4 out of Michigan State), four-time All-Star Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young (No. 5 out of Oklahoma), reigning MVP and Finals MVP point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder (No. 11 out of Kentucky), and two-time All-NBA Second Team Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson (No. 33 out of Villanova), to name just a few.
Bagley has been enjoying a mild renaissance on a doomed Washington squad this year. In his 22 available games for the 5-22 Wizards, Bagley has been averaging a prolific 10.0 points on 61.9 percent shooting from the field and 65.3 percent shooting from the free throw line, 5.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.7 blocks and 0.5 steals - across just 19.4 minutes per.
Edwards believes the reformed draft bust could serve as a nice third option at the five spot, behind All-NBA starter Karl-Anthony Towns and defense-first reserve Mitchell Robinson.
“The Wizards aren't good, but Bagley has been solid,” Edwards writes. “The veteran center, who is 26, can still score and rebound. If the Knicks wanted a little insurance behind Robinson and Towns, Bagley isn't the worst option, given that he makes only $2.2 million and could probably be had for a second-round pick.”
Edwards sees Bagley as an occasional replacement for/complement to Robinson, who gets hurt so much he’s now effectively a constant injury risk.
“Bagley is not a good defender (he can occasionally block shots); however, his offensive skills and athleticism make him intriguing when Robinson can't play,” Edwards notes. “You know what you're going to get with Bagley, and while you may want more at times, it's good to know what you can expect night in and night out from your third center.”
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