Wagner might be worth Nets draft trade-up
Two years ago, when Michigan’s Caris LeVert was projected as a second-round pick, the Nets took a chance on him in the first round and he has exceeded all their expectations. If they gamble on another Wolverine product, Berlin-bred Moritz Wagner, LeVert said the Nets will be bringing the ultimate competitor to Brooklyn.
“He’s extremely competitive,” LeVert told The Post. “That’s probably his best asset, his competitiveness, his willingness to win. Obviously he’s really skilled, a really good passer, a really good shooter. [But] his competitiveness is what separates him.
“For sure it helped because he was [young] when he came over. But yeah, that’s the main thing that pushed him, set him apart from everybody else, just his competitiveness, and his wanting to be really good.”
The Nets have a glaring need for a stretch-four, and at 6-foot-11, 240 pounds, Wagner fills the bill. Wagner, who has been linked to the Nets in mock drafts by Tankathon, The Athletic and Bleacher Report, said he roots for Brooklyn and is clearly comfortable here.
“I love New York,” he told Big Ten Network after playing in the Garden in the conference tournament. “I’m from a big city [Berlin], so I love it. I like the honking at night, I love all the people. It’s incredible.”
The way Wagner’s stock is rising — he is No. 21 in NBA.com’s latest mock, and listed 28th by ESPN Insiders — the Nets, with the 29th pick, would have to trade up to get him. They worked him out last year and again this season, and found a better player this time around. He averaged 14.6 points and 7.1 rebounds last season.
Wagner has gotten more physical, started hitting the glass and showed muchneeded improvement on defense. He has size, a nice stroke and a big-game gene. He was MVP of the Big Ten tournament and led Michigan to the NCAA Championship game.
Asked about the Knicks after his huge Big Ten tourney performance at the Garden, he replied he rooted for the Nets. Several members of his entourage were spotted wearing Brooklyn gear. It’s no wonder with Wagner considering Nik Stauskas and especially LeVert as mentors.
“There’s Caris, who was a senior when I was a freshman, and really showed me the way as far as, like — OK, this is the kind of dominant player, and leadership presence, that you can someday grow into. [Or at least try],” Wagner wrote in The Players’ Tribune. “Getting advice from Caris really gave me the courage to play my first year.”
To play in the NBA, Wagner will have to improve his defense, but showed enough agility to the combine to do so. And his offense fits the new NBA: He shooting percentage from deep was 39.5 and 39.4 the past two years.
“People space you out, and one thing you need is playmakers on the perimeter. That’s where I can help,” Wagner said.
“Wagner has got a skill set. Anybody would be happy to have a player like him,” ESPN analyst Jay Bilas said. “Mo’s going to be a solid NBA player. He’s a very late firstround or early second-round pick. Obviously he’s got good size and can stretch the floor. He’s a skilled big guy that can make a play. He’s disciplined and does a good job of putting a body on somebody and boxing out.”