Franz Wagner was drafted in the NBA Draft with the 8th pick from the Orlando Magic. There the Berliner could meet his brother Moritz Wagner, who most recently also played in Florida.
Previously there were numerous rumors about Wagner that he could go to the Golden State Warriors in 7th position. However, they instead took Jonathan Kuminga from the G-League, behind which Orlando snapped at Wagner.
“I’m very, very happy that I was just drafted,” said Wagner afterwards SPOX. “I think this is a team that I fit in very well with. I’m looking forward to the task.” Wagner confirmed that he had a workout in Orlando prior to the draft and that it went well. “This is a young team with a lot of talent. I hope that we can build something up there and become a really good team.”
In addition to Wagner, the Magic already moved in fifth place guard Jalen Suggs from Gonzaga, who is to become the new Magic franchise star. Orlando had initiated the rebuild in March with the trades of Nikola Vucevic, Evan Fournier and Aaron Gordon, the received pick for Vucevic from Chicago was now used for Wagner.
Franz Wagner sets German draft record
Together with Detlef Schrempf, the 19-year-old is the most highly picked German player of all time. Schrempf was drawn eighth by the Dallas Mavericks in 1985, Dirk Nowitzki was drafted ninth by the Milwaukee Bucks in 1998, but was immediately traded to Dallas. “It feels good,” said Wagner. “The number wasn’t important to me, I’m just glad I’m in Orlando now.
Wagner began his career at ALBA Berlin, where he received his first professional assignments at the age of 16. However, the Berliner refused a contract and instead went to college in Michigan, where his brother Moritz had already played for three years. In two years, Franz Wagner put on an average of 12.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists for the Wolverines at 46.5 percent from the field and 32.5 percent from the triple line.
In Orlando Wagner could now meet his brother again. Moritz Wagner ended the 20/21 season in Florida after playing for the Washington Wizards and the Boston Celtics earlier in the season. When asked whether Moritz was promoting his brother behind the scenes, Wagner said the following: “You have to ask him that. But it’s a cool moment for the whole family and hopefully we can have fun together.”
It is unclear whether Moritz Wagner will appear for Magic in the coming season. The center is an unrestricted free agent. Franz would at least endorse a Wagner combo in Orlando: “That would be really nice. My parents would be really happy too. Let’s see, it will be decided in the coming weeks, but Moe should first bring the Olympic Games to an end.”
Franz Wagner’s statistics (per 40 minutes) for Michigan in 2020/21
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | FG% | 3P% | FT% |
| 15,7 | 8,3 | 3,8 | 1,6 | 1,3 | 1,6 | 47,7 | 34,3 (35/102) | 83,5 |
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