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Cavs’ Evan Mobley stands pat at second on latest Rookie Ladder

By Justin Brownlow

Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers. (Photo by David Richard-USA TODAY Sports)
Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers. (Photo by David Richard-USA TODAY Sports) /
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Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /

Wagner wins Rookie of the Month

After Evan Mobley won Rookie of the Month for October and November, Wagner is the latest rookie to bring home the award in the Eastern Conference. The man from Michigan averaged 19.5 points per game, added five rebounds, and dished out three assists per contest throughout December. With closing on three months of full NBA basketball in his pocket, it looks as if he’s only going to improve as the year goes on.

As I stated earlier, the Magic are in a tough spot right now. Orlando has lost seven straight, with their next game coming on Saturday versus Cade Cunningham and the Pistons. Wagner will need to keep playing well for the Magic to be able to even contend in some of these games.

Clearly Wagner has grown into one of the best, if not the best, player on the Magic roster thus far into the season. Finally, the Magic are starting to trust the young man a bit more. In the opening months of the season, Wagner was only averaging 2.3 seconds per touch, as was noted by Bryan Kalbrosky of HoopsHype and was h/t Steve Aschburner of NBA.com.

Basically, every time he got it, he would shoot, or look to pass right away. However, with injuries and COVID ravaging through the NBA, Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley has been forced to put the ball into Wagner’s hand more. As the season has progressed, so has the amount of time Wagner has with the ball in his hands.

As of their most recent game, Wagner is averaging nearly four seconds per touch, meaning the Magic are looking to him more often. If Wagner keeps improving his play, he might even be bringing the ball up the court for Orlando in the near future.