Orlando likely wanted to use Wagner as a ball-handler and phase those kinds of opportunities into his game. Wagner showed hints of all of this in his rookie year. But to catch onto the most difficult and important position in the league and do so successfully this quickly is impressive. But the amount of growth he has shown and comfort working on the ball and attacking the basket with the ball in his hand are just astounding. Wagner struggled with it early in the season - and probably still struggles to bring the ball up the floor when he is put under pressure. The Magic essentially put everything Wagner did last year into overdrive while also adding more to his plate.ĭown Markelle Fultz and Cole Anthony in the first game (and for much of the first quarter of the season), the Magic put the ball in Franz Wagner’s hands and asked him to be the team’s lead ball handler for long stretches (either with the starting group or with the reserves depending on Jalen Suggs’ availability). Wagner is on the ball a lot and one of the key scorers. Those who thought Wagner was not involved enough in the offense last year got exactly what they wanted this year. And his usage took an incredible leap from 21.2 percent to 25.0 percent this year. His free throw attempts jumped from 2.8 per game last year to 4.3 per game this year. His assists nearly doubled from last year’s 2.9 per game last year. Wagner averaged 19.5 points per game, 4.1 rebounds per game and 4.0 assists per game while shooting 50.0 percent from the floor in the first 21 games. And not even just adaptability but his near mastery of everything the Magic threw at him. Wagner’s best ability was his adaptability. But availability was not Wagner’s best ability in the first quarter of the season and why he is our first-quarter MVP. Franz Wagner was one of two players to play in all 21 games (Bol Bol is the other). The Magic’s first quarter of the season was filled with uncertainty and injury. But he literally seems like he can do everything and accepts any challenge the Orlando Magic throw at him. Franz Wagner entered the league as a do-everything forward. They all can see that he is a “do-everything” forward who does, well, everything. No one will confuse Wagner with just a “do-everything” forward who simply plays a role. The hints have become clearer during the start of his second season. The hints of what would come next were there with his step-backs and mock Dirk Nowitzki fadeaways. He was a better shooter in his secondary role for the German national team as they won the bronze medal. His Eurobasket seemed to put all of these skills into overdrive. He showed tons of promise in making the All-Rookie First Team. He was a strong connector and shooter for sure, but also an interesting pick-and-roll option and perhaps a playmaker too. Wagner quickly proved everyone wrong with a dynamic rookie season. They were a rebuilding team that would need him to be on the ball. The Orlando Magic did not seem to be the right team for him. Of course, that kind of label is the kiss of death. He seemed like he would fit in as a role player - a high-level one that would help connect and make a winning team work. The story about him coming into the Draft process was that he was a tweener forward who could do a bit of everything but no one thing great. The worst thing you can do when it comes to Franz Wagner is to underestimate him.
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