If there is one individual keeping the Orlando Magic happy this season, and it is Franz Wagner. No, that’s not fair. Cole Anthony, and his extremely supportive network of friends and family, have also been such a welcome addition to Magic fandom. Particularly on Twitter.
But we’re here to talk about Wagner, because at this point in time he is entering territory that we have not seen in some time. In what is now the second attempt at a rebuild since 2012, Wagner has quickly established himself as probably the best rookie they have picked in that timeframe. The competition might not be hard (they didn’t draft Nikola Vucevic), but that is still impressive.
Franz Wagner wasn’t the most celebrated pick of the Orlando Magic in 2021, but the fact he is not featured in most Rookie of the Year chatter is embarrassing.
Wagner has come in and stolen all of the excitement from fellow rookie Jalen Suggs. Not in a bad way either, as Suggs has just struggled to adapt to the pros (as most rookies do) and has dealt with injury.
Orlando’s second selection in the draft came in with far less pressure, having originally been a pick that was traded by the Chicago Bulls to the Magic in order to land Vucevic.
No matter if the Magic end up getting another good pick from the Bulls as part of the deal next summer, and even if Wendell Carter Jr. doesn’t work out for the long term, getting Wagner alone in that trade was a fantastic stroke of genius and luck.