Franz Wagner is one of three Orlando Magic players to have appeared in all 25 games so far. Now, the German forward will be out with an injury. Wagner suffered the injury against the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night. On Saturday, the Magic announced that the forward has been diagnosed with a torn right oblique, the same injury that sidelined Paolo Banchero. Let’s talk about the Franz Wagner injury update and what comes next for the Magic.
Franz Wagner’s Injury Update – Any Silver Lining for the Magic?
The Magic suffered a huge blow to their hopes of winning the NBA Cup. They will be without their two main guys in the NBA Cup quarterfinal on Tuesday as they face the Milwaukee Bucks. Without Wagner and Banchero, the Magic will have their hands full with forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The setback comes at times when the Magic have been rolling thanks to Wagner playing like an All-Star player. As of December 8, they sit at the third spot in the Eastern Conference. It will be hard to imagine they will still be there when both Wagner and Banchero are back on the court.
Jalen Suggs Time to Shine
Recently, ESPN released their best 25 players under 25 years of age. The Magic have three players on that list, with Banchero and Wagner in the top five. But we cannot forget that Jalen Suggs made that list as well.
While he is known as more of a defensive guard, this might be the time for him to spread his wings and try other things. Suggs will have the ball more in his hands now and might get a few more touches to develop his offensive game.
It is worth noting that shooting-wise, Suggs is having the worst season since his rookie year. His percentage is down to 41%, the worst since shooting 36.1% from the floor during his rookie year. Last season, Suggs shot 47.1% from the floor and 39.7% from behind the arc.
A Silver Lining
The good news for the Magic is that they have built a good cushion. They have five more wins than the sixth seed in the East, the Miami Heat. Their position as a playoff team might survive the stretch without Wagner and Banchero. Even if they fall into the play-in zone, the competition there is not something to rave about. Currently, the Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, and the Milwaukee Bucks are in the play-in spots. The East doesn’t look as strong as people predicted this year, meaning that the Magic’s spot in the playoffs is not looking to be endangered.
Who Needs to Step Up?
Besides Suggs, the Magic have other young players who can step up during this period. For example, Franz’s countryman, Tristan Da Silva plays the same forward position. This year, he has even started 14 games for the Magic.
Da Silva was an All-Pac-12 player as a junior averaging 15.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game. He might be a rookie, but he is 23-years old. Getting several more minutes might up his scoring to double digits. Da Silva is averaging 7.1 points right now in 23.2 minutes of action.
The Magic have 13 players averaging 10+ minutes per game. Their deep rotation will be put to the test while Banchero and Wagner are out. Franz’s older brother, Moritz Wagner, is having a good year as well. He and Anthony Black are the two other players who have appeared in all 25 games for the Magic this season. His minutes are up slightly this year, but his scoring is also up by two points.
When Will Banchero Come Back?
The Magic still do not have a timeline for when Paolo Banchero will come back. Initially, they said he will be re-evaluated in four-to-six weeks, and his return to play will depend on how his body responded to treatment. Fans saw him stretching during the team’s shootaround before their November 27 game at home.
