NBA Most Exciting Prospects: Where's Magic Forward Franz Wagner?

Wagner made the All-Rookie First Team last season.

Jeremy Brener | Aug 6, 2022

NBA Most Exciting Prospects: Where's Magic Forward Franz Wagner? /

ORLANDO - Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner had one of the most exciting rookie seasons last year in the NBA.

The No. 8 overall pick from Michigan averaged 15.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 79 games in his first season.

The 20-year-old’s numbers jumped up to 19.5 points on .476/.404/.889 shooting splits in December and was awarded the NBA Rookie of the Month.

His performance last season placed him as an "Honorable Mention" in Bleacher Report's list of the most exciting young prospects at every position.

Wagner found himself among the league's most exciting small forwards alongside Jonathan Kuminga (Golden State Warriors), Keldon Johnson (San Antonio Spurs) and Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves).

“Wagner featured prominently in Rookie of the Year chatter, which was a promising sign even if he never had much of a shot to win it,” Bleacher Report said. “Assuming Banchero lives up to his billing as a first-option shot-creator, Orlando's three-man core should function well together with minimal overlap.”

The former Michigan product will have a chance to play on a global stage in September, suiting up for the German National Team, along with his Magic teammate and brother Mo, in the FIBA Eurobasket 2022 Tournament.

Wagner recorded a 7.6 on the Versatility Index according to Second Spectrum in his rookie season, with the index measuring a player's ability to produce points, rebounds and assists, the average score being a five.

With Paolo Banchero entering the mix for the upcoming season, the Magic have the opportunity to form one of the most exciting frontcourts in the league.

Published Aug 6, 2022

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.