Mo Wagner NBA debut vs. the Suns - 3-8 shooting, 10 pts, 3 rebs in 10 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=6&v=oeDhlOKVLLU
I'll probably eff up the embed, so link of highlights is above.
With the obvious disclaimer that this was mostly in garbage time of a Laker blowout, it's good to see Herr Wagner in action again. It was just as great to see the other Laker centers going nuts when Mo tallied his first points. (I'm sure John Beilein had an involuntary twitch at Wagner racking up 4 fouls in only 10 minutes of play, though)
December 2nd, 2018 at 6:31 PM ^
Edit - mea culpa, this wasn't his official NBA debut, but it *is* the first time he's gotten extended minutes and stats.
December 2nd, 2018 at 6:34 PM ^
That is awesome. Will play a long time if he can take it to the rim.
December 2nd, 2018 at 6:49 PM ^
Mighty Mo!
Does he still do the tongue thing after draining a shot?
One of my favorites to watch.
December 2nd, 2018 at 6:52 PM ^
Video in OP is worth a watch just for the Laker vets going nuts when Mo scores his first NBA points.
December 2nd, 2018 at 6:55 PM ^
Very cool. His fellow big men must love him.
December 2nd, 2018 at 6:58 PM ^
Thank you.
That gave me goose bumps. So happy for the kid! With a historic organization nonetheless.
December 2nd, 2018 at 10:04 PM ^
Lakers have vets?
Trying to think.... LBJ and Rondo or something?
December 2nd, 2018 at 10:21 PM ^
Tyson Chandler has literally been in the league since the 90's.
Javale McGee, KCP, Michael Beasley, Lance Stephenson, Rondo, Bron...
December 2nd, 2018 at 7:49 PM ^
He also committed 4 fouls in his 10 minutes -- maybe the most impressive part of his stat line
December 2nd, 2018 at 8:13 PM ^
Boo, no call for the rookie in the paint!
Yay, Moe got the roll on his FT for his 1st point! And he bagged a couple of threes!
December 2nd, 2018 at 8:55 PM ^
cool to see!
happy to finally see mo on the court! love how him and LeBron were having a bit of a back and forth about The Game
December 2nd, 2018 at 8:58 PM ^
he didn't do the German hand gesture for 3
:/
December 2nd, 2018 at 10:49 PM ^
...yeah he did
December 2nd, 2018 at 9:40 PM ^
nice! he knocked down a couple 3s. that's the key. if he can consistently do that, he will last several years in a backup roll at a minimum.
December 2nd, 2018 at 10:03 PM ^
Definitely has a place on offense. As with any big man, needs to be at least grow to be serviceable on D/rebounding. He's going to struggle to guard 4's in today's NBA, so his best bet is to be a backup 5.
December 2nd, 2018 at 10:35 PM ^
NBA Hall of Famer. Mark it.
December 2nd, 2018 at 10:47 PM ^
Enough about Moe. Was Mom Wagner there?
December 2nd, 2018 at 11:06 PM ^
Great to see him in action. He was a project at UM his FR year and turned out to be a stud.
Plus Double plus good ++ for his mom.
December 3rd, 2018 at 12:16 AM ^
Stroke looked good. I miss watching that guy. Michigan's best Big Man since Webber.
December 3rd, 2018 at 2:55 AM ^
I know it's an era we like to forget, but another Mo (Taylor) and Robert Traylor would like a word.
December 3rd, 2018 at 3:54 AM ^
Also 4 fouls....he's gonna have to clean that up.
December 3rd, 2018 at 11:16 AM ^
As an avid Laker fan that watches nearly every game, I was definitely excited to see Wagner get some extended run yesterday. Caveats apply for garbage time, but his stroke from the perimeter looked legit with repeatable mechanics and he also attacked a closeout that created some space before he lost balance in the paint. Need to see him in real game action against legit comp (Suns are very, very bad) to really evaluate, but he looks like he can hold his own on the offensive end with continued development. Will definitely need to set much better screens, and if he can do that, it will create much more space for him to attack wild closeouts.
Defensively, a completely different story. The Suns gave the ball to Ayton on the block with Wagner matched up on him, and to put it kindly, Ayton got to his spot as if Wagner wasn't even in the area as he scored a layup. Contrast that with Ayton's futile attempts at bullying Chandler in the post and then shooting wild midrange jumpers that clanked off the backboard once he realized that iso post offense simply wasn't a good idea against Tyson Chandler.
Unfortunately, I don't think Wagner is going to play very much for us. He's a considerable downgrade on the defensive end from McGee, and especially Chandler. McGee is the better offensive option and Chandler is the better defensive option. Barring injury, I don't think he gets more than mop-up duty in garbage time. Lakers are in win now mode and are surging, we're not looking to develop at this point............I can see him getting moved in a trade deadline deal or perhaps this Summer.