Magic Center Moe Wagner Can 'Go Up Another Level'

Moe Wagner faces free agency this summer and the Orlando Magic must decide if it wants to re-sign him to a new deal.

Jeremy Brener | Jun 17, 2023

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Orlando Magic

ORLANDO - Orlando Magic center Moe Wagner plays a crucial role for his team.

As a high-energy leader off the bench, Wagner may not be the best or most well-rounded player, but he has a lot of what you cannot teach to basketball players.

That's part of the reason why The Athletic ranked Wagner as the 12th-best center in free agency this summer.

"Orlando’s other Wagner proved he wasn’t just there to babysit, playing well enough to oust Bamba from the backup center role," The Athletic writes. "Wagner is still a vulnerable defender whose only move is taking a charge, but that’s easier to live with when you average 26.1 points per 100 on 63.0 percent true shooting. Wagner could actually go up another level if he can get his 3-pointer to drop more consistently — he’s at 31.9 percent for his career, but that hasn’t stopped him from firing away."

Wagner is a key cog to the Magic in terms of its chemistry. Given the fact that Wagner plays with his little brother Franz is a "huge advantage" for the two of them and the team as a whole. However, if a pure upgrade came about, then the Magic would have to consider a world without Moe.

If the team found a better player than Moe Wagner, it will likely be someone who can protect the rim or defend better than he can.

That being said, a lot of what Moe brings to the table can't be taught nor can it be seen in a box score. That's why if the Magic ultimately decide to bring him back, it's because the team sees something that others don't.

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Published Jun 17, 2023

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.