Lakers News: Moritz Wagner ‘Trying To Establish’ Himself Defensively At Summer League

Trevor Lane
3 Min Read
Rohan Ali - Lakers.com

The Los Angeles Lakers snagged Moritz Wagner with the 25th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. The hope is that his ability to stretch the floor as well as create off the dribble will give him the versatility that modern NBA teams crave.

GET YOUR ‘LABRON’ SHIRT NOW!

Wagner developed a reputation for playing with fire and passion during his college days at Michigan and should become a near-instant fan favorite in Los Angeles.

That said, his game still needs plenty of work if he’s going to reach his full potential. While he’s getting his feet wet in Summer League, Wagner shared in a post-game interview that he is focusing on becoming a better defender:

“Honestly that’s what I’m trying to establish here in this time, to just feel more comfortable defensively, be solid there, and all the rest I’m not really worried about. Rebound the basketball and be solid in my job. Do my job defensively, that’s what I’m trying to improve on most.”

In his final game of the California Classic in Sacramento, Wagner posted an impressive line of 13 points, 13 rebounds, and four blocks while also hitting 2-4 from three. He was clearly making a concerted effort to be more of a presence at the rim and on the glass, and it paid off.

He still has a long way to goand Wagner will need to hit the weight room to get stronger, but the fact that he recognizes his weaknesses and is working to correct them is a good sign.

The Lakers have a habit of finding productive players late in the first round and it appears that Wagner could be on his way to continuing the trend.

Medium Large is looking to add motivated individuals with big dreams and a big appetite for success to our LakersNation.com direct sales team based in Los Angeles or Orange County. If you love sports, know digital sales, and can throw your weight behind an aggressive commission based opportunity than we would love to talk to you. Please apply at: http://mediumlarge.la/?jobs=1576. If you meet our criteria we will be in touch!

Trevor Lane is a longtime NBA and Los Angeles Lakers fan who had the good fortune to grow up during the glory days of the Showtime Lakers, when Magic Johnson, Kareem-Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, and the rest ruled the Great Western Forum. He has written about basketball, soccer, fantasy sports, MMA, and even pro wrestling over the course of his career, but the spectacle that is the Lakers is his true passion. He made the leap into podcasting for Lakers Nation and provides voice-over analysis for our YouTube channel. With a who's who of stars gracing the Lakers lineup over the years, including Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Shaquille O'Neal, Pau Gasol, and many others, the Lakers always provide plenty to talk about. When he isn't writing or recording, Trevor can be found spending time with his wife and daughter or on the sidelines for one of the youth teams he coaches. Outside of the Lakers, Trevor is a supporter of the LA Galaxy, US Soccer, Dallas Cowboys, and Los Angeles Dodgers. Contact: trevor@mediumlargela.com