Hoops Habit
Fansided

NBA Rookie Ladder Week 20: Evan Mobley dethroned for first

By Jack Simone

CLEVELAND, OHIO - JANUARY 24: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers warms up prior to the game against the New York Knicks at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on January 24, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - JANUARY 24: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers warms up prior to the game against the New York Knicks at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on January 24, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
A Rookie Ladder Week 20: Evan Mobley dethroned for first
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – JANUARY 30: Franz Wagner #22 of the Orlando Magic dribbles the ball during the second half against the Dallas Mavericks at Amway Center on January 30, 2022 in Orlando, Florida, A Rookie Ladder Week 20: Evan Mobley dethroned for first. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

Week 20 NBA Rookie Ladder: 5. Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic

Rank last week: N/R

Stats: 15.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 46.6% FG, 35.7% 3PT

Since last ladder: 18.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 51.3% FG, 42.9% 3PT

Heading into the season, the Orlando Magic were highly praised for selecting Jalen Suggs with the fourth overall pick, as many people believed he would be off the board by then.

And while Suggs has shown some flashes of progress as of late, it’s become increasingly clear that he’s not only not in the running for Rookie of the Year, but he’s not even the next rookie on his own team.

The Magic took Franz Wagner with the eighth overall pick, and that has turned out to be one of the best decisions they have made in recent history.

Wagner is turning out to be one of the best rookies in the class. The 6-10 forward can do a little bit of everything on the court, and he looks like the type of player Orlando can build around.

He’s a solid defender, he can drive to the rim, and he hits his three at an above-average clip. Add in his height, and he’s the type of player that teams drool over.

In a year where winning might matter in the race for Rookie of the Year, though, the fact that the Magic are one of the worst teams in the league could hurt Wagner’s chances.