2018 NBA Mock Draft: What’s in store for the second round?

Some team is going to trick themselves into thinking Wagner is closer to a Dirk Nowitzki than a Henry Ellenson, and it’s not going to go well. With the Wizards desperate for frontcourt value, they certainly could be that team.

Wagner’s ceiling is well within site — he’s probably best as a floor spacer and bench chucker who is something of a basketball designated hitter. He can certainly take over entire games, as we saw frequently in Ann Arbor. His 27-point outburst against Michigan State established the Wolverines as real contenders this year and that happened in large part because Wagner outplayed Jaren Jackson Jr. He backed that up with a magical NCAA tournament performance.

Mike Scott became one of Washington’s best weapons this season because of his offensive versatility. Big men with the ability to playmake and shoot from deep are incredibly valuable, able to survive in smaller lineups despite not being able to defend outside of their position. Wagner needs to become a better passer for that concept to hold true for him, but his shooting and mobility are there already. He could slide into bench lineups right away for the Wizards.

Wagner shot .528/.394/.694 as a senior and picked up his rebounding. He’s coming closer to a real NBA player with each passing season, but it’s tough to overcome the physical and athletic disadvantages baked into Wagner’s game. Washington has no choice but to pray.