The Atlanta Hawks have a chance to really move their rebuild forward this year. They have three first-round picks, landing Marvin Bagley and Kevin Huerter with their first two selections in the mock draft. With their third selection and No. 30 overall, the Hawks continue adding to their frontcourt with Moritz Wagner.
Wagner burst onto the scene during Michigan’s improbable postseason run. He opted to remain at Michigan for his junior season and it proved to be a smart decision. Wagner averaged 14.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.
The improvement in rebounding was nice to see after he averaged only 4.2 per game as a sophomore. He showcased a solid offensive game, knocking down 39.4 percent of his shots from the 3-point line. Wagner profiles a stretch-5 in the NBA, but who he is paired with in the frontcourt will be very important.
Wagner is slow footed, which causes problems defensively. He fouls a lot as his lack of athleticism and awareness defensively hurt him. NBA teams will attack him, so it is an area that he needs to improve upon if he wants to carve out a lengthy NBA career.
Next: 50 Greatest Players In Lakers Franchise History
Improving his speed and agility would help immensely. If Wagner is able to do that, combined with his solid offensive game, he will prove to be a useful frontcourt piece for the Hawks.