3. Moritz Wagner
The Lakers have made it a trend to find gems later on in the first round and second round of the NBA Draft in recent years. They are hoping to keep that streak going with Michigan center, Moritz Wagner.
The Lakers landed Wagner with the No. 25 overall pick they received from the Cleveland Cavaliers at this February’s trade deadline. Wagner was the driving force behind Michigan making it to this year’s National Championship Game, and his performance helped push him into the first round.
There is no denying the offensive potential that Wagner has. He can do it all on that side of the ball. Wagner can step out beyond the 3-point line, be a facilitator at the top of the key or score in the low-post. It is his performance on the other end of the court that leaves something to be desired.
Wagner is not a good defender. He has a penchant for committing fouls as he does not perform well in space. Wagner also provides nothing as a rim protector, averaging only 0.4 blocks per game in college, so having him as the last line of defense could be an issue.
What you will not have to worry about with Wagner is giving effort. When he is on the court, he is giving it his all and providing energetic play. That, along with his offensive performance, will help get him on the court.
However, he needs to work on his quickness and defense. He is an x-factor for the Lakers this offseason. If he shows he has worked on and improved his defense, he could quickly become the go-to player at center. If not, he will probably be stuck in a three-man rotation with JaVale McGee and Ivica Zubac.