Mavericks continue to win Anthony Davis trade as unlikely piece breaks out

The Dallas Mavericks' decision to trade Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards has turned into a landslide with less than a week left in the regular season. While Wizards fans are now having to worry about Davis being shut down for the rest of the season, Marvin Bagley III is playing some of the best basketball of his career as a Maverick.

Mavericks fans didn't know what to expect when they saw that he was included in the Davis trade, but he has been a major reason that they're winning this once-controversial deal. This trade wasn't just about draft capital and future financial flexibility, and Bagley III is a testament to that.

Marvin Bagley III is even better than Dallas ever imagined

He's averaging 11.0 points and 7.1 rebounds per game while shooting 60.7 percent from the field and an incredible 52 percent from downtown in 20 games in Dallas. Bagley III is turning into an efficient floor spacer in front of everyone's eyes, and his recent play can't go overlooked.

He finished with 21 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks against the LA Clippers last night while shooting 8-11 from the floor and 1-1 from beyond the arc. While it didn't result in a win for Dallas, his ability to create second-chance points, finish around the bucket, and knock down open shots has been strong.

Bagley III has one of the best second jumps in the NBA, and his effort on the offensive glass can't be undermined. He is averaging over 2.5 offensive rebounds per game as a Maverick, and the energy that he brings in that department is unmatched.

While Bagley III obviously isn't the best overall player in the trade that sent Davis to Washington, he has been this year. The Davis trade went from a salary dump to a move that gave the Mavericks multiple solid pieces, and Bagley III's free agency is one of the most intriguing storylines to keep an eye on this summer.

Bagley III gives the Mavericks what they've been missing

Dallas has needed a big man who can space the floor for some time, and Cooper Flagg's ability to get to the rim makes this need even more pressing. Bagley III being able to step outside and knock down open shots helps the Mavericks open up the floor for their rookie star, and re-signing him to be one of their backup bigs would definitely be a good plan.

He would bring them shooting, offensive rebounding, energy, and strong paint play, and this is everything that you need from your center off the bench. His defense isn't as strong as someone like Dereck Lively II or Daniel Gafford, but the versatility that he brings on offense is definitely worth exploring.

The Mavericks have some money to play with this summer after dumping Davis, D'Angelo Russell, Dante Exum, and Jaden Hardy at the trade deadline, and this could favor Bagley III as he searches for a new contract. He has already proven that he is worth more than the veteran minimum contract that he signed with the Wizards last offseason, and him staying in Dallas or not will likely come down to if they're comfortable giving him a raise.