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Los Angeles Lakers: How Moritz Wagner fits on the roster

By Donny McHenry

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 21: Moritz Wagner reacts after being drafted 25th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2018 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 21, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. 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 Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 21: Moritz Wagner reacts after being drafted 25th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2018 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 21, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. 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 Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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With the 25th overall pick, the Los Angeles Lakers selected Moritz Wagner. How will he fit on the roster?

Last night in the 2018 NBA Draft the sole first round pick for the Los Angeles Lakers came at number 25. It was being rumored that the Lakers were going to try and get a big with the pick, and that was confirmed when they picked Moritz Wagner out of the University of Michigan.

The pick has so far been met with mixed reaction from Lakers fans on Twitter (see below). Names like De’Anthony Melton, Mitchell Robinson, and Kevin Huerter among others were rumored to be taken by the Lakers at the 25 spot. Wagner entered the conversation recently, as ESPN Lakers reporter Ohm Youngmisuk mentioned that the Lakers were wanting a player with his skill set.

As the Lakers came up at the 25th pick, it was believed by the ESPN broadcast team that Robert Williams was far ahead the best player available. It was reasonable to believe the Lakers might draft Williams, as he was of the same mold as Mitchell Robinson who was heavily rumored to be on the Lakers’ radar.

Williams wasn’t drafted by the Lakers, as Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka focused on improving their dreadful shooting from the 2017-18 season. During his final season, Wagner shot 39.4% from the 3-point line on 4.1 attempts per game. That efficiency from the 3 will be welcomed with open arms on the Lakers, as the team was second-to-last in the NBA in 3P%, shooting 34.5%.

Will Wagner Work on the Lakers?

The “fit vs. best available” argument will always rage on leading up to the NBA Draft. Once the picks are in, however, it is fair game to start talking about each player’s fit with their new teams.

In regards to fit, Wagner is definitely an interesting pick for the Lakers.

According to Bleacher Report, Wagner is 6’11 1/2” and weighs 241.4 pounds. The weight is definitely impressive considering how skinny Wagner looks, which makes me think that he’s got some solid muscle. B/R also says that Wagner has a 7’0” wingspan, which sounds good, but definitely pales in comparison to some of the other freakishly long bigs in the draft.

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Due to his size and shooting ability, Wagner seems like he will fill a stretch-4 or 5 role. His fit with the Lakers will be interesting given the current personnel that the Lakers have. Kyle Kuzma seems to be the primary stretch-4 for the Lakers moving forward. Wagner getting serious playing time at the 4 becomes even more complicated if the Lakers retain Julius Randle, who should be on the court as much as possible.

The Lakers’ starter at the center position for the 2017-18 season was Brook Lopez, but he will be a unrestricted free agent this offseason. It’s unclear at the moment if the Lakers plan to bring him back. If he went to another team, Wagner could theoretically help fill the void of a stretch-5 along with Thomas Bryant.

The main concern with Wagner is how well he will be able to perform defensively in the NBA. If he isn’t a good defender, and if Lopez and Randle were both gone/not on the court, the Lakers would be at a huge disadvantage defensively with a Wagner/Kuzma frontcourt.

Only Time Will Tell…

We really won’t know how good (or bad) of a draft pick Wagner is until we see him play a full season. With that being said, the pick was a bit of a head-scratcher. The Lakers did need some 3-point shooting, but they also needed someone on the perimeter who could shoot and also play defense. A backup point guard who could guard both the 1 and the 2 was something that the Lakers could’ve used at that #25 pick. Unless we are all fine with Tyler Ennis and Alex Caruso backing up Lonzo Ball?

Next: Complete First Round Grades

We should give Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka the benefit of the doubt though, as their first draft last season was very successful. Many people were skeptical of Kyle Kuzma when the Lakers first drafted him last year late in the first round, but those doubts were quickly put to rest.

Hopefully the same will happen with Wagner.

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