3 Orlando Magic players who are expendable, 3 the team can't afford to trade

3 Orlando Magic players who are expendable, 3 the team can't afford to trade

Can't Afford to Lose: Moe Wagner

The Orlando Magic's bench has been the team's superpower this season.

Orlando is averaging a league-high 46.6 points per game off the bench. And there have been a lot of games -- even with all the injuries to starting players -- where the Magic's bench just overwhelms overmatched teams in the second and early fourth quarters.

Cole Anthony is in the running for Sixth Man of the Year without a doubt. So too is Moe Wagner.

Wagner's story has been as incredible as anything else this season. In three years, he has gone from a castoff picked up by the Magic to fill the roster to third center on a short-term deal to backup center with some flaws but good energy to an indispensable bench player.

Wagner this season has continued his crazy ascent, averaging a career-best 12.5 points per game. He is shooting an incredible 63.3 percent from the floor, proving to be an excellent roll man on pick and rolls -- 1.27 points per possession on plays when Wagner is the roll man.

Wagner though has been dominant inside the paint. And that includes defense where he went from giving up 75.5 percent shooting at the rim -- the worst mark among centers who played at least 41 games -- to giving up 57.7 percent at the rim.

Wagner was a good screener last year and has continued that this year with 2.0 screen assists per game, trailing only the Magic's main starters.

Wagner continues to step up his game and match the physicality the team needs while also giving them scoring. He has continued to be a revelation.

Orlando needs physical players like Wagner desperately. That is part of the identity the Magic have been trying to build this year. Some players exemplify that perfectly -- like Jalen Suggs, Joe Ingles and Jonathan Isaac. And those are the player who are truly indispensable for this team.