Pistons big man Marvin Bagley III has been diagnosed with a bone bruise and a sprained MCL in his right knee, the team announced today in a press release. Bagley underwent an MRI after sustaining the injury during Detroit’s preseason game vs. Oklahoma City on Tuesday.
According to the Pistons, the injury will require rest and rehabilitation, with Bagley expected to miss at least the next three or four weeks. That means he’ll be unavailable when the team begins its regular season scheduled next Wednesday vs. Orlando. Still, there’s some relief that his injury wasn’t more serious, tweets ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
A former No. 2 overall pick, Bagley was traded from Sacramento to Detroit at last season’s deadline. He averaged 14.6 PPG and 6.8 RPG in 18 games (27.2 MPG) for the Pistons down the stretch, earning a fully guaranteed three-year, $37.5MM deal in free agency this summer.
The Pistons will have to take advantage of their depth in the frontcourt in the early part of the season, with Bagley sidelined and Nerlens Noel – who just started light team activities a couple days ago, per James L. Edwards III of The Athletic (Twitter link) – still on the shelf. It could mean that lottery pick Jalen Duren sees some playing time right away behind starting center Isaiah Stewart.
Gotta feel bad for Bagley now at this point. When he is about to head into the season for the first time healthy, this happens. I still have hope that he can untap that #2 pick potential when he is given minutes and the most important “to be healthy”.
P.S. Hoops Rumors team. Can someone please contact Mr. Dierkes and please tell that I’ve responded to his email about the contest. It’s almost one week, yet still no response from him. Thank you!!!
He never had #2 potential. Kings were just being the kings. Bagley is a modern NBA tweener.
Yup. Don’t hold your breathe on Bags.
Kings passed on luka for that clown, ya right. They told sac behind the scenes luka wouldn’t play in cowtown. Any other excuse and Vivek needs to sell the team and divest himself of his vast wealth and pay reparations to the fans.
Looked W-A-Y worse than that…Injury Gods were looking over Marvin