8 – Franz Wagner (Rookie of the Year betting odds = 23.00)
Drafted from G League Ignite
Picked by – Orlando Magic (NBA Championship betting odds = 501.00)
Age: 19
Measurements: 6’9” (2.05m) 220 lbs (99.8kg)
Position: Forward
We had Franz Wagner pegged for 9th pick, but he’s done one better and come in at 8th. Let’s take a closer look at the German youngster and see what he brings to the NBA.
AVERAGES AND STATS
Franz Wagner averaged 12.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3 assists per game last season in the Big Ten. He only turned the ball over 1.3 times per game and had decent scoring percentages, particularly from the free-throw line (84%)
SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES
Franz Wagner is a versatile, fluid athlete with excellent game instincts.
He is a competitive player with a genuine feel for the fundamentals of the game on and off the ball.
In fact, his work off the ball is particularly impressive and important.
He contributes in various ways offensively and can be a handful for defenders.
The Berliner is a rock-solid shooter from the 3-point and midrange.
Then there’s his extremely useful reliability at the foul line.
That gives rise to a deal of optimism about his potential as a shooter moving forwards.
He is not spectacularly quick or explosive, but attacks the space intelligently and looks after the ball well.
Franz Wagner is rapidly becoming a very intuitive playmaker and a highly reliable offensive weapon.
On the back foot, Wagner is a diligent, perceptive defender who does his job actively and competently.
He often gets a hand up on shooters and is not overly costly in terms of giving away fouls. Superb anticipation and quick hands make him a valuable defender in all situations.
All in all, he was very solid last season and made a significant impact.
Do we believe in Magic?
As discussed when previewing Suggs – The Orlando Magic ranked bottom five in both offensive and defensive efficiency last season.
Franz Wagner can really help them out here. As mentioned he both defends and attacks well.
He is a busy player with a set of skills they can really make use of.
Betting odds have them at 201.00 to win their Conference and 501.00 to take the NBA itself. Not much confidence in them at all this season.
They will need to make serious improvements this season and Franz Wagner might represent a big step in the right direction.
