27-Year-Old Center Re-Signs with the Magic

During the 2023-2024 NBA regular season, the young and promising Orlando Magic made the playoffs for the first time in four seasons. During their first-round matchup, they played the Cleveland Cavaliers, and although they put up a great fight, the Magic were eliminated in seven games. While Franz Wagner had close to an All-Star season, his brother Moritz Wagner was an extremely reliable role player coming off the bench. Orlando looked to retain the older Wagner brother as he became a free agent at the end of the season. The 27-year-old center has just signed a two-year, $22 million deal with the Magic.  

The Los Angeles Lakers selected Moritz Wagner with the 25th overall pick during the 2018 NBA Draft. He played just two seasons with the Lakers before being traded to the Washington Wizards. On November 15th, 2019, Wagner became the first NBA player since Yao Ming in 2002 to score 30 points and grab 15 rebounds coming off the bench. Wagner became the first player since Len Chappell in 1967 to achieve this feat under 26 minutes of playing time. During the 2021 season, the 27-year-old center was traded to the Boston Celtics and played just nine games with Boston before getting waived. After being put on waivers, Wagner signed with the Orlando Magic and has been with the team since. He’s been extremely reliable playing in 200 out of 246 games with the team during the past three seasons. 

Last season, the 27-year-old center played in 80 games with Orlando. In about 18 minutes off the bench, he averaged just about 11 points, four rebounds, an assist, and a steal a game. In seven games played during these past playoffs, Wagner averaged six points, four rebounds, and a steal in 15 minutes. He will look to improve his rebounding being 6’11 and provide necessary scoring for the Magic.