5 young players Orlando Magic should develop, 4 to give up on
By Tyler Watts
5 Players the Orlando Magic should develop, 4 they shouldn’t
Develop: Franz Wagner
Franz Wagner is quietly becoming one of the best young players in the NBA.
The 21-year-old just averaged 18.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.0 steal in 32.6 minutes per game. The 6-foot-9 forward can do a bit of everything on the court, and he is still years away from his prime.
Last season, there were noticeable improvements in his shooting, playmaking, scoring and defense. His value over replacement player (VORP) was 1.3, which tied for 90th in the NBA with seven other players, including Tyrese Maxey.
Wagner is blossoming into a threat on both ends of the floor. He has a high basketball IQ and the versatility on defense to guard multiple positions.
He will be looking to take another step forward in year three with the hopes of getting the Orlando Magic to the playoffs for just the third time since 2011. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner are a formidable forward duo that could quickly blossom into one of the best in the league. Wagner’s versatility would fit on any team, and he keeps improving.
The Magic are all-in on building the team around their young forward duo. They added shooting and playmaking in the draft to make things easier on Banchero and Wagner. Expect Orlando to keep the pair together as they look to jump into contention.