The Los Angeles Lakers' 2025-26 season had one of the most disappointing center rotations in recent team history. It was not because of production, but because they lacked any form of variety, with both Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes being traditional interior bigs.
In the modern NBA, if you are going to win by committee at the center spot, you need versatility, and more importantly, you need a true floor-spacing big man. The last time the Lakers had real option of that variety was during the 2018-19 season with rookie big man Moritz Wagner
The Michigan big man was Rob Pelinka’s first draft pick as the Los Angeles Lakers' head decision-maker. The Lakers had two draft picks that year, No. 25 and No. 47. With their first-round pick, they selected Wagner, who could be set for a return this summer.
Wagner has spent the majority of his post-Lakers career bouncing from team to team before finding a home in Orlando with his brother, Franz. After seven years away from the Lakers, Wagner is set to hit unrestricted free agency, and his ability to be a floor-spacing big could be a valuable addition to JJ Redick's offense.
A Lakers-Moritz Wagner reunion could be great for LA
Wagner made 36 appearances for the Orlando Magic this season, averaging 6.9 points and 3.2 rebounds per game while shooting 31.4 percent from deep in just under 12 minutes per game. Although his 3-point splits don’t scream elite-level floor spacer, context is key.
Firstly, Wagner was coming back from a major ACL injury he suffered in December of 2024, which meant most of this season was focused on recovery and getting back to 100 percent.
Secondly, the Magic were a bottom-four 3-point shooting team this past season, which made Wagner’s job as a stretch big even harder. We was one of only a couple threats that opposing defenses had to focus on.
Even more important than both of these points is that the Magic don’t have a player or playmaker who draws the gravity Luka Doncic does on offense. In LA, Doncic would open plenty of clean looks from beyond the arc for Wagner.
Pelinka is very familiar with Wagner’s shooting upside, as when he drafted him as a junior out of Michigan, he had been shooting 38.5 percent from distance on 2.7 attempts per game.
Outside of just shooting, Wagner could also give the Lakers someone with true center size at 6-foot-11 that can handle the ball a bit, get downhil,l and score. He isn’t going to dissect opponents with some ridiculous dribble combos, but he is capable of exploiting slower-footed big men on the perimeter and putting them in the rim.
A big man who exposes those types of matchups is something the Lakers haven't had the luxury of, but could if they sign Wagner this summer. If Pelinka is looking to diversify the Lakers' frontcourt this summer and give Luka a true floor-spacing center, Mo Wagner is a budget-friendly option.
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