The left ankle injury that has sidelined Magic forward Franz Wagner for 25 of the team’s past 29 games continues to be a problem, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, who reports (via Twitter) that Wagner will be out indefinitely when the team resumes play following the All-Star break.
Wagner continues to experience soreness in that left ankle after being diagnosed with a high ankle sprain back in early December, Charania explains. The 24-year-old returned for two games in mid-January and played in Orlando’s last two contests before the break, but has never been back to 100% and will require addition time and rehabilitation.
The plan, as reported by Charania and confirmed by the Magic (Twitter link), is to reevaluate Wagner in three weeks. That timeline suggests he’ll miss at least the next 10 games, and it seems likely he’ll be sidelined for longer than that.
It has been a frustrating season for Wagner, who was playing at an All-Star level before injuring his ankle on December 7 in New York. In his first 23 healthy games this season, the German forward averaged 23.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in 34.5 minutes per game.
The Magic went 14-9 with Wagner healthy to open the season, but have played sub-.500 basketball since then (14-16) and are currently in play-in territory. At 28-25, Orlando has a half-game lead over Miami for the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Wagner had come off the bench in his two most recent games, so the Magic won’t have to adjust their starting five on Thursday in Sacramento. Reserve forward Noah Penda, who has played more frequently since Wagner first went down, figures to continue seeing rotation minutes for the club.
Sure glad the Warriors got Kristaps instead of this dude.
Both made of glass
Odd comparison to make. I’m so glad Portland drafted Ogden vs Anthony Bennett!
He is just coping so hard to justify that the Dubs made the correct move when in reality, none of the moves theyve made in recent memory has brought them closer to a championship.
Im glad Warriors traded Kuminga to the Hawsk so we can stop the Giannis to Warriors non sense.
Butler and Porzingis deals have left the Warriors with not much to trade compared to other teams in off season.
You must be new here. That won’t stop it. Davey will come up with some other scheme and then claim he is a genius.
Wrong: Giannis trade value at this deadline just passed >>>> Giannis trade value this upcoming offseason. If things get ugly, the Giannis return might even be less than we all think. It might just be Butler and 2 Firsts for Giannis. Giannis to GSW is not dead by any stretch, even after getting rid of Kuminga.
I keep having to repeat it: the Bucks FO wants to move on from him, but barely any teams actually want him. He presents too much restructuring to any team besides GSW. He wants to stay, or he wants to go to the Knicks…but neither of those FOs want him or have a decent return for him, and same goes for all other teams…except GSW…
If we know anything, its that the GSW FO lies constantly and will stab any player in the back. I can easily see them trading anyone not Steph at any moment. They traded for Kristaps because of the $46M cap space hit he has for next year.
At this point, shut Wagner down for the season. They have a LOT of future cap space tied to him still for next year ($41M). I believe they will move on from either Suggs/WCJ or Issac this offseason. Payroll is around $214M next year which is too high for a team that’s simply not good enough in a weak Eastern Conference. I’m surprised Mosley is still there to be honest. Team has been one of the league’s biggest disappointments after the Bane coup that Memphis got for him. Changes are coming in Orlando this offseason no doubt about that.
Agreed. Mosley is a rebuilding coach and they are just not going to go any further with him.
In my opinion fire Mosley or trade Banchero along with getting off bad contracts. Paolo and Mosley already don’t see eye to eye.
MAGIC can’t seem to catch a break with these injuries.
Wait, it’s most of the league actually.
Maybe it’s just me, but it feels like there’s been more reinjuries this year where guys have come back from an initial injury only to miss additional time for the same injury later on. Franz is just the most notable name in that group given his pedigree and the total amount of time he’ll miss.
Perhaps it’s just bad luck, but I hope they didn’t come back too early. Might be time for the medical profession to revisit the timetable to return from ankle injuries in particular, as they represent a significant number of these cases this year.
Jett Howard was such a bad pick, he can’t even get on the court with Wagner having this injury. Jaquez is really the only pick after that would have been good for them. If they could have traded they may have.
I have to disagree with you, imo magic should have drafted Keyonte George