3 Orlando Magic players ready for a bigger role

3 Orlando Magic players ready for a bigger role

1. Moe Wagner

Moe Wagner’s return from injury eight games ago has felt like a new signing for the Magic. He has burst back onto the scene, starting four of those games and muscling his way straight up to eighth in minutes per game (25.6).

He unlocks different kinds of lineups for this roster, and can play both as a center, or else a more physical forward next to Bolb Bol (and the sorely missed Wendell Carter when he returns) on the court. He has a field goal percentage of 48.4 percent, which is good for fourth on the team.

Whenever he checks into a game he brings a controlled, but frenetic, energy that has been seriously lacking in some of the more damaging defeats this season. The team has an improved defensive rating of 112.7 when the elder Wagner is on the court.

If one player encapsulates what coach Mosley is trying to do, it is this guy. Although listed at a shade under seven feet, he does not feel like a traditional big man. Even if he does not stretch the floor and offensively is limited.

But there is a willingness to play hard in every game that, if given more of a chance, would surely rub off on his teammates.

Consider this. Think of how hard Wagner plays now, and the good he is able to do in a limited role. Now imagine the games actually meant something, and the Magic were fighting for seeding in the playoffs.

This is Wagner’s true beauty and why he needs a bigger role ASAP. If the organization is serious about winning some games, and that could be up for debate, then everything he does helps them to achieve that goal. Career highs in points (11.3), rebounds (7.5) and assists (2.6) with a Player Efficiency Rating of 15.9 (it was 11.5 when he got to Orlando), summarize this nicely.