2018-19 Lakers Season Preview: Will Moritz Wagner Be An Answer At Center?
Moritz Wagner
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Many were surprised when the Los Angeles Lakers selected Michigan’s Moritz Wagner with the 25th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. After all, Wagner was projected by most to fall into the second round and rumored target Mitchell Robinson was still on the board.

SHOP NOW: CHECK OUT THE LATEST MERCH ????????????

However, Wagner quieted those rumblings with his strong play during the Las Vegas Summer League. While he didn’t shoot the ball as well as he would have liked, Wagner still showed flashes of the range that makes him an ideal big in the modern NBA.

Before the draft, most of the concerns about Wagner’s transition to the NBA centered around his ability to defend at a high level, and he did what he could to address the issue in Las Vegas. With determination to prove his doubters wrong, Wagner hauled in eight rebounds while notching an impressive 1.3 blocks and 2.7 steals during his Summer League play.

Unfortunately, Wagner suffered a knee and ankle injury in Las Vegas that limited him to just three appearances. Even worse, the injury has lingered and caused him to not be ready to fully participate in training camp with the Lakers.

He was then ruled out for the entirety of preseason. Already thin at the center position, Wagner’s absence makes it all the more likely that the Lakers will employ a lot of small-ball to start the season.

When he does return, Wagner will find himself playing catch up, making up for the time he lost sitting on the sidelines. It would appear that a G League stint will be all but a certainty, but the Lakers are concerned about the long-haul with Wagner.

He will be given time to fully recover and eventually prove that he can be the workhorse that he looked to be during his college days and time with the Summer League team.

Fans may have to be patient, but Wagner is the kind of player who could pay off down the road.

Want to get your content COMPLETELY AD FREE? Follow us on Apple News!

You May Also Like

Lakers News Feed: Reasons For The Andrew Bogut Signing & Possible Brook Lopez Injury

Even with the NBA season almost upon us, the Los Angeles Lakers are still making moves….

Lakers Nation Podcast: Angry Luke and Lakers vs. Sacramento Kings Break Down

The Los Angeles Lakers have now lost seven games in a row thanks to a disastrous third quarter against the Sacramento Kings in the first outing of an extended road trip…

Lakers Podcast: Salary Cap Situation With No. 4 Pick In 2019 NBA Draft, Options To Build Roster

The Los Angeles Lakers were fortunate to move up in the 2019 NBA Draft, jumping from the No. 11 pick all the way up to…

Lakers Podcast: Paul George L.A. Bound?, Analyzing Trade Deadline Deals

The NBA trade deadline has come and gone and we may have more questions than answers….