Moritz Wagner, the 28-year-old forward, has signed a one-year deal to return to the Orlando Magic. This new deal follows a tumultuous run for Wagner, who was waived towards the end of the 2020-21 NBA season. His agent, Jason Glushon, worked with Magic executives to ensure his return to the team. They managed to do so, unexpectedly closing the deal just on Friday.
Wagner’s breakout season with the Magic proved that he can be a game-changing player. Despite that, he’s still been able to play in 30 games this season. In December, he went down with a torn ACL that kept him out for most of the season. He wasn’t immune to the occasional misstep, but he refused to be deterred. He averaged a career-high 12.9 points per game on an absurdly efficient 56.2% shooting from the field. The 36% he hit from deep before his injury was a career best. This great game only deepened his track record of professional reliability, cementing him as an irreplaceable presence whenever he steps onto a court.
While with Orlando, Wagner looked like an executive of the year and Sixth Man of the Year award lock. He managed to do all this while leading the NBA in points per 36 minutes among all players who averaged less than 20 minutes a game. That’s an incredible stat that speaks to his scoring ability and efficiency, according to ESPN Stats and info.
Wagner’s return to the Magic is both a personal and professional opportunity for the swingman. The franchise hopes to continue developing from his previous creative contributions. The Eagles have plans to use his versatility to put him in positions to succeed this season. How much he can add to the scoring punch off the bench will certainly be needed if the Magic make a push toward the postseason.
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