Golden State Warriors NBA Draft: Franz Wagner is ideal prospect
By Tony Pesta
Pros of Golden State Warriors taking Franz Wagner in NBA Draft
The Golden State Warriors are hoping for a prospect who can come in and make an instant impact on the team. Another work in progress like James Wiseman just won’t cut it this season. With Klay Thompson coming back, it’s time to make a run at the title.
This is what makes Franz Wagner an ideal pick-up. He played two NCAA seasons with Michigan and has experience playing under pressure in the March Madness Tournament. He’s more developed than most of his peers and that will likely bode well for Wagner in his rookie season.
Standing at 6’9″ with a jack-of-all-trades skillset, Wagner is going to fill in nicely with the Warriors’ current rotation. He’s an easy slot to backup Andrew Wiggins in the event that Kelly Oubre leaves in free agency and with time, he could be a closer in death lineups.
Wagner doesn’t have elite athleticism but he’s tall enough to cover ground and play multiple positions. He has chops for shooting, playmaking and rebounding, making him a potential small-ball four in the future.
As a sophomore, Wagner averaged 12.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists. He shot 34.3 percent from the 3-point line and 83.5 percent from the charity stripe. In time, Wagner can be a connecting piece from the backcourt to the frontcourt as a player who can do it all with his well-rounded skill set.