For two years I have fought with my peers, my friends and myself over Marvin Bagley.
One of the first articles I ever wrote was an adamant defense of his selection by the Sacramento Kings in the 2018 NBA Draft. Yes, I would have picked Luka Doncic, but I willingly went to the mat in order to defend the minority opinion.
Sadly, I have to give up the fight entirely. It's a terrible feeling, as it always is with injuries. None of this is Bagley's fault. Not one bit. But just because no one is at fault doesn't mean nothing happened.
Marvin Bagley is hurt again, this time with a lateral sprain of his right foot. His season is over.
Twenty missed games in his first year, 59 in his second. He was shut down four separate times this season. We got excited again and again, but had our hopes dashed each time.
Sacramento will have to wait nearly a full calendar year in total, January to December, between Bagley's last appearance in an NBA game and his next one. And as recent history has taught us, it could be even longer than that.
It hurts me to say it, but the best thing the Kings can do for Bagley is to remove all expectations of the future entirely.
