Rookie center Moe Wagner is one of the more underrated young pieces on the Los Angeles Lakers. Wagner, 21-years-old, was the Lakers' first-round pick this past summer but he's failed to find a consistent role in the rotation.
That being said, his best outing of the season came on Sunday against the Washington Wizards and it could mean more minutes for him in the future. Wagner put up 12 points on 5-for-7 shooting from the floor. Additionally, Wagner knocked down two of his three attempts from beyond-the-arc.
Lakers head coach Luke Walton told reporters on Spectrum SportsNet that he likes Walton's ability to play the role of “stretch five” (via Silver Screen & Roll):
“He’s been solid in practice. What he really does a good job of is just playing basketball. Reading, talking, communicating, setting picks. He gives us a stretch five, which — especially with LeBron — is a nice weapon to have.”
Wagner's ability to play the stretch five alongside James could mean he's in for a bigger role going forward. James seems to like playing with the German big man and he spoke about Wagner's ability to communicate on defense:
“He’s always talking throughout the course of the game, trying to figure out ways he can help the team or just communicating defensively.”
Finding a niche alongside James is a good way to make a case for increased playing time. This could mean more time for Wagner on the court and it could even mean that Wagner gets to see his first real action in crunch-time minutes.
Follow Us
Subscribe