The 8th overall pick in this year's NBA Draft raised some eyebrows when his name was called, however Franz Wagner has quickly adapted to the NBA and is showing signs that he might be more than just a "glue guy." We're only four games into the '21-'22 NBA season but Franz Wagner has shown consistency that should delight Magic fans. He's scored in double figures every game and has shown a knack for cutting, has good hands on defense, three point prowess, and a really high basketball IQ. While Jalen Suggs is pegged to be the franchise player, Wagner looks like he will be a legitimate starter because of his size, length, mobility, and his basketball acumen.
The Magic are 1-2 and probably won't win more than 30 games this year, but the youth movement is in full swing and if this team can grow together with the experience of playing against good veteran clubs, Orlando might have the next great young core in the making. In the podcast clip below, Magic Play by Play announcer David Steele joins Open Mike to discuss last night's game in Miami, Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, the important veteran presence of Terrence Ross, and more.
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