Lake Show Life
Fansided

Los Angeles Lakers’ best candidates for each NBA Award

By Cameron Salce

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 18: LeBron James #23 Of Team LeBron speaks after receiving the MVP award during the NBA All-Star Game as a part of 2018 NBA All-Star Weekend at STAPLES Center on February 18, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 18: LeBron James #23 Of Team LeBron speaks after receiving the MVP award during the NBA All-Star Game as a part of 2018 NBA All-Star Weekend at STAPLES Center on February 18, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
Los Angeles Lakers:
Los Angeles Lakers: /

Rookie of the Year: Moritz Wagner

The most logical choice on the Lakers roster to win the Rookie of the Year Award would be their first-round draft pick, Moritz Wagner. Svi Mykhailuk had a spectacular Summer League that might have been better than Wagner’s overall, but he is far less likely to crack the rotation this season because the Lakers have solid depth at shooting guard.

Wagner has a clear-cut path to starting if he plays well because Center is the Lakers’ weakest position. He will only have to compete with JaVale McGee and Ivica Zubac for minutes.

Zubac has shown flashes of potential in limited NBA action, but he has never had a major role in the rotation. McGee is a two time Champion and a 10 year NBA veteran, but he has not averaged more than 11 minutes a game the past four seasons.

Wagner also proved at Michigan, that he can shoot the ball from the perimeter, which is something neither Zubac or McGee are known for at all.

Brook Lopez was able to stretch the floor for the Lakers and was one of their best 3-point shooters last season, hitting over 100 threes for them from the center spot. Wagner could be used in a similar role, and if he is an integral part of a successful Laker team as a starter he could easily be in the running for rookie of the year next season.

Guards have dominated this award the past decade, the only center to win the award came in 2015-16 when Karl Anthony-Towns won the award. Before that, the last big man to win the award was Emeka Okafor in 2004.

At the center spot, he will have an uphill battle to garner Rookie of the Year consideration and there are definitely more talented players in his draft class. But Wagner has a decent chance to get into that conversation if he maximizes his potential in year one on a newly energized Lakers team.

Home/Lakers News