Orlando Magic Daily
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2018 Orlando Magic Draft Preview: Moritz Wagner—great shooting, limited upside

By Drew Miller

SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 2: Moritz Wagner #13 of the Michigan Wolverines dunks against the Villanova Wildcats during the 2018 NCAA Men's Final Four Championship game at the Alamodome on April 2, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Brett Wilhelm/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 2: Moritz Wagner #13 of the Michigan Wolverines dunks against the Villanova Wildcats during the 2018 NCAA Men's Final Four Championship game at the Alamodome on April 2, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Brett Wilhelm/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) /
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The Bad

Rim protection is essential in the NBA and is one of the most valued traits in centers.

NBA players from a young age are trained to attack the rim and create a play. The best defensive centers have the wingspan and leap to contest shots at the rim.

While his seven-foot wingspan is not bad, it does not compare to other players like Mohamed Bamba and his nearly eight-foot wingspan. It is no coincidence the top center prospects in this year’s draft class all are great rim protectors with good verticals and wingspans.

This is something the Orlando Magic really need from a center. Currently, the team has no true rim protector and has not since Dewayne Dedmon.

The Magic know all too well about the need for rim protection, as Nikola Vucevic’s greatest failure is in this area and leads to the Magic’s subpar defense. Magic opponents shot 62.6 percent from within five feet last season, placing the team in the bottom half of the league.

The Magic need rim protection, and this is something Wagner simply cannot offer.

Despite his size, he offers almost zero rim protection. Wagner, during his collegiate career, averaged 0.4 blocks per game. While Wagner has proven to be a solid college defender, this glaring lack of ability is a major concern for the NBA.

Wagner’s inability to protect the rim and his lack of lateral foot speed leaves him in limbo. He is not strong enough inside to be a true center,. But he is too slow to play power forward.

Without the ability to protect the rim, Wagner surely cannot be a starting center on a winning NBA team. While he can no doubt be successful and find his niche in the league, these factors limit his upside dramatically, and he projects to be a role player at best at the next level.