Lakers Rumors: Moritz Wagner getting closer to returning
Recent Los Angeles Lakers rumors involve big man Moritz Wagner is progressing in his recovery from a left knee contusion.
Recent Los Angeles Lakers rumors should excite fans of the team.
Let’s be honest about the following. The depth the Los Angeles Lakers have at the center position is nothing to boast about.
Beyond JaVale McGee, the options the Lakers have exercised at the five have not been plentiful. Kyle Kuzma has gotten the bulk of the minutes at this position when McGee is getting a rest.
It is not to knock Kuzma’s game. One of the best assets he has is his versatility. However, Kuzma simply does not have the requisite size to compete with traditional centers.
Although the game does not possess as many traditional centers anymore, to begin with, having guys who can do the dirty work is important for any team. McGee has been the only constant in that respect thus far for Los Angeles.
Thankfully for the Lakers, the ball club may be getting a much-needed boost at the center position in the time to come. Via Matthew Moreno of Lakers Nation, their first-round draft pick, Moritz Wagner, is getting closer to returning from a left knee contusion.
For those who may not recall, Wagner aggravated his knee during Las Vegas Summer League competition. The young man has not played in any meaningful games since the injury occurred.
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Wagner missed the entirety of the preseason, which certainly has not been beneficial for him or the Lakers. The purple and gold already have an array of new players that are still amid the process of getting to know one another. Thus, when Wagner is not able to play, things are held up in that area to some extent.
Per Moreno, the 6-foot-11 baller has been going through some drills in practice of late. Without a doubt, that is a good sign in terms of Wagner’s recovery. Each and every moment Wagner sees the court will be crucial in getting him more comfortable at the NBA level.
Albeit Wagner could be fully healthy soon, head coach Luke Walton is making no promises as to when the former will play for real.
"“I would imagine a good amount of time, but it’s different for everybody,” Walton said when asked how long Wagner would need to acclimate himself.“I think it’s more challenging when you’re a rookie. You get healthy, now you’ve got to adjust to the speed of everything in the NBA.”"
Walton makes a fair point when referencing “speed.” The pace of college basketball is definitely different when placed alongside what the NBA brings to the table. Accordingly, Lakers’ fans should not get their hopes up too high as far as an exact date is concerned.
However, supporters of the team can look forward to potentially seeing the team’s 3-point shooting improving upon Wagner’s return. This has been a spot of weakness for the Lakers early on, and Wagner is known for his ability to shoot from distance (despite the rust he showed this summer).
In his junior campaign at Michigan, Wagner shot the rock at a 39 percent rate from behind the arc. If those skills transfer over, the Lakers will be happy campers.
Another area Wagner could be serviceable in is his rebounding. He was not afraid to crash the boards in college and averaged eight per game during his short Summer League run for the Lakers.
The primary concern regarding Wagner is how he will perform on defense. He is not too renowned in this facet of the game, which could present a concern for the Lakers. Despite that, his solid 6-foot-11, 245-pound frame provides a little bit of solace.
Nonetheless, size means squat when the statistics have not been too impressive. Wagner has never been an excellent shot blocker and is not the quickest fellow in the world.
On that note, once Wagner returns, he will have to prove to Walton that he is more than a capable shooter. Otherwise, the minutes he receives will likely be limited.
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Contrarily, if the young blood puts in the time to become more well-rounded, he will make Walton’s life tougher in terms of minutes distribution.