How Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner can get ahead of the roster competition

Orlando Magic Draft Pick Fits

Franz Wagner

Franz Wagner is coming into a slightly different situation than Jalen Suggs in that he filled a huge gap on the Orlando Magic roster at a wing spot where there is a serious lack of options.

At present, only Jonathan Isaac and Chuma Okeke are options on the wing that are there for the long haul. Adding Wagner was a relatively safe pick, but one who made a lot of sense given the Magic could identify where he would be able to positively impact a team.

He does a lot of things well but does not necessarily stand out in one area. Wagner was taken for his all-around versatility on the wing — including his defensive solidity, playmaking skill and shooting potential. Essentially, everything a modern NBA team wants on the perimeter.

It is unclear when exactly Isaac will come back, but when he comes back to full health he has to start games whether at the 3 or the 4. He still has important strides to make on offense, but defensively he can be the best player in the league.

Orlando Magic

And Okeke showed enough to warrant his place as a starter next season too, given his tenacious defense and offensive growth exhibited last season. There is also Dwayne Bacon and James Ennis, who may or may not be with the team again next year, while Weltman and the front office will no doubt look to sign more wings through free agency.

Wagner will undoubtedly enjoy a lot of opportunity, particularly given Isaac is still working his way back from injury. But above all, he must prove he can be reliable on offense to nail down a starting spot.

Okeke had an up and down year shooting from three, but showed enough to be confident in his ability to do so moving forward. He also demonstrated some growth on offense, attempting and hitting fadeaways in the post and pulling up off the dribble too.

There is still a way to go of course, but like Okeke, Wagner has to demonstrate some growth offensively and prove he can be dependable as a scorer. Who makes the most progress in this area will likely get the greater opportunity.

His biggest contribution on offense is through his playmaking.

Wagner is a fine passer who attracts the attention of the defense before finding cutters and teammates for open shots. But he also has to show that he can score when needed.

There is some shooting talent there. He made 34.3-percent of his 3-point attempts last season on 3.6 attempts per game. There is a concern the attempts per game decreased from his freshman year, but that may have been a coaching decision to help the team enjoy more success rather than an individual choice.

But in the NBA, Wagner has to become a solid shooter to live up to what he can potentially be. There is already a lot of confidence that he can contribute defensively, but adding the three to the D is what will set him apart.

This is because he is not the type of player with a burst of explosiveness to get to the rim when he wants. He relies more on his intelligence to make smart cuts to the basket, as opposed to breaking people down one-on-one and creating his own shot, given he does not really have the handle to do so.

For guys like that, maximising the strengths they do have on offense is key. There is work to do when it comes to finishing at the rim as well, but if he can be reliable off the catch and shoot and show some improvement near the basket, he will be an effective player for the Magic for years to come.