Lakers draft Moritz Wagner with No. 25 pick
With the 25th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers selected Michigan power forward Moritz Wagner.
Wagner is coming off a junior season in which he led the Wolverines in scoring, rebounding, and 3-point shooting while carrying the team to the national finals. The Berlin native profiles as a prototypical stretch big who can be effective in the pick-and-pop and also has a nice touch around the basket. But he hasn't demonstrated any playmaking chops and his upside, particularly on the defensive end, is limited by his lack of athleticism, quickness, and length.
Wagner figures to be most effective as a five in the NBA, but bigger centers could push him around, and rebounding would likely be a concern.
Moritz Wagner bio
Position: PF, C
School: Michigan
College Experience: Junior
Height: 6-foot-11.5
Weight: 241 lbs
Wingspan: 7-feet
What the analysts are saying
- "Wagner has upside as a deadly shooter with great size and a developing faceup game, but against quicker, more athletic competition, he may struggle to get looks both inside and out or offer much outside of shooting." - Jacob Stallard, NBADraft.net
- "A talented scorer with range, Wagner is a nice fit in today's NBA that values spacing and shot creation. He's a well-coordinated athlete who gets up and down the floor well, plays with a lot of energy and hustle, but lacks ideal length and isn't much of a rim protector." - NBA Draft Room