Philip Rossman-Reich here, the host of the daily Locked On Magic podcast, with your daily Locked On Magic newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Magic and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Franz Wagner is becoming an All-Star
Nov 12, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) shoots as Charlotte Hornets forward Cody Martin (11) defends during the second half at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images|Kim Klement Neitzel/Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
The opening possession for the Orlando Magic required a double take.
Franz Wagner coming around a high pick and roll was pretty normal. He drove toward the elbow and stopped, spun back around and took a mid-range jumper.
Wagner returned to his normal shot profile, driving to the basket and finishing around defenders. His 32 points, eight rebounds and five assists were plenty of suggestions of what he can do, continuing a torrid run of play.
But at a certain point, Wagner returned to that little-used weapon in his arsenal. He hit a Dirk Nowitzki-style fadeaway over a defender. He hit a step back from the elbow extended.
This is not the Franz Wagner everyone knows and loves. But this is the Wagner the Magic need him to be right now. This is the Franz Wagner the Magic require with their star in Paolo Banchero out.
Wagner needed some time to get settled and find his footing in the time without Banchero. But things are settling for him and the team with a three-game win streak. Wagner has taken on the mantle of the team’s All-Star, in the meantime.
That means a mindset shift. And yes, that means Wagner is taking mid-range jumpers.
“I think I had a little adjustment period,” Wagner said. “I talked about it as a little mentality switch for me as well. The way I grew up playing was really off the ball and taking really good shots all the time. I think sometimes it’s ok to take the mid-range shots. That’s not something that wasn’t ingrained in me necessarily or wasn’t taught to me at a young age. It’s a good challenge for me.”
Wagner entered the game shooting 5 for 6 total on mid-range jumpers. He made three of his six mid-range jumpers in the Magic’s 114-89 win over the Charlotte Hornets. It was. . . unusual.
The mid-range though is the provenance of the stars. They are the ones who get to take these kinds of shots. And Wagner has increasingly earned that privilege.
Wagner is averaging 26.4 points per game and shooting 48.5 percent from the floor. He has added 5.8 rebounds per game, 5.2 assists per game and 1.6 steals per game for good measure. Wagner has been stellar and has helped the Magic stay in the early postseason chase.
His increased usage and scoring have been essential. And it is the exact growth the Magic needed to see from their young star in Banchero’s absence.
As much as the Magic want to say very little has changed since Banchero’s injury -- the team has stayed the course and stayed true to their philosophy and work – they have needed Wagner to step up his play. They have needed him to be the team’s star.
We are still a month away from All-Star voting and two months away before the coaches select the reserves. If the Magic are in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race, they will get a representative. In all likelihood, Banchero will not play enough to get consideration.
If Wagner keeps playing the way he is playing, expanding his game and leading his team, he will earn his first All-Star bid and represent the team in San Francisco.
Klay Thompson’s homecoming to The Bay started well before he hit the floor last night at Oracle with the Mavs and roughly 19,000 fans started waving nautical Captain hats.
It started mid-way through last season, when Golden State didn’t signal they’d immediately be resigning Thompson as the franchise had, up to then, always been in a hurry to. There were shades of it along with Thompson’s frustrations in his game changing, the splashy shots not falling as fluidly as they used to. Clues came in the way the Warriors felt their frustrations as a team: once together, a cohesive unit, and then splintering and individually.
“Even from July, when Klay decided to go to Dallas to us showing up for training camp and him not being here, it was kind of like a slow build to this night for everybody,” Warriors point guard, Steph Curry, said after last night’s game.
Basketball isn’t played in a vacuum, and Curry sharing the psychic and emotional timeline of the team underscores that in a rare glimpse behind the curtain. Sometimes its brightest full-circle moments have to struggle through discomfort, angst and loss in order to come back around. Often, the storylines with the most ups and downs are the ones that end the most cathartically.
Since this season began, Thompson’s been candid about how necessary the move to Dallas was for him. “Every pro athlete’s human, and uncertainty can bear on you,” he told ESPN prior to Tuesday night’s homecoming game.
“Honestly, it’s rejuvenated me and done something I needed bad just for my mental [state] and my career,” Thompson said.
It’s a knife’s edge between animosity for an athlete’s who’s left a franchise they share a storied history with and sympathy for their decision. What tips fans to one side or the other can skew personal, so isn’t always easy to predict, but Thompson’s tendency toward honesty helps. He’s always been someone who wears what he’s feeling on the floor openly, and for that fans — for the most part — respond with empathy. There’s a sense that through all the years he played for the Warriors there was an open conduit of conversation between him and the fanbase.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Legacy Klay Thompson feels “free” after his late-career move to Dallas. (ESPN)
Must Read Goga Bitadze’s influence and the team’s dynamics are worth watching as the Magic head into the NBA Cup. (Orlando Sentinel)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Basketball Takeaways From Tuesday - Robert Williams Day
Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III (35) shoots the ball against Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid (11) during the first half at Moda Center. |Photo by Soobum Im/Soobum Im-Imagn Images
Tuesday’s NBA games offered a wealth of insights for fantasy basketball managers. Here’s a closer look at the key takeaways and strategic moves you should consider:
Charlotte Hornets vs. Orlando Magic
- Grant Williams: With his move to the starting lineup, Williams is a viable short-term pickup, especially while the Hornets deal with injuries. His ability to contribute in multiple categories makes him a solid addition in deeper leagues.
- Moussa Diabate: Diabate’s rebounding prowess is noteworthy, especially with the Hornets’ frontcourt injuries. He’s a strong option for those in need of rebounds in deeper formats.
- Franz Wagner: Wagner’s performance underscores his value, particularly with Paolo Banchero out. Consider selling high if you can get a top-tier player in return, as his current production may dip once Banchero returns.
Miami Heat vs. Detroit Pistons
- Tyler Herro: After a 40-point explosion, Herro is a prime sell-high candidate. His shooting percentages are unlikely to sustain, so capitalise on his current form to bolster your roster.
- Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey: Both players showed their potential to fill the stat sheet. Cunningham remains a must-start, while Ivey’s bounce-back game suggests he’s worth holding onto for his upside.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Magic podcasts.
NBA Cup Preview: Orlando Magic have something to prove without Paolo Banchero The NBA Cup has arrived. Unlike last year, the Orlando Magic are an established team with playoff experience. The NBA Cup may not hold the same potential for significance for this growing team this time around, especially with Paolo Banchero out.
Orlando Magic’s offensive improvement: Why winning in the margins matter The Orlando Magic’s offense has found a lift in the last three games, capped off with a 121-94 win over the Washington Wizards on Sunday. While the team is starting to find its three-point fortune again, the game was won on the margins with the team’s ability to get offensive rebounds, second-chance points and score off turnovers.
Franz Wagner’s stardom evolves as Orlando Magic’s offensive leader Franz Wagner is stepping up for the Orlando Magic, showcasing his evolving role as the primary offensive force with Paolo Banchero sidelined. Can Wagner’s aggressive play, highlighted by his 27-point performance, lead the Magic to success?
