Michigan Basketball: Would Moe Wagner have been a first-round pick?
Former Michigan basketball standout D.J. Wilson went 17th in the 2017 NBA draft, which got me thinking, where would Moe Wagner have gone had he stayed?
It wasn’t a surprise to hear former Michigan basketball player D.J. Wilson get his name called in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft. Yet, when it was called was a little unexpected.
Related Story: D.J. Wilson fits well in Milwaukee
As the draft drew closer, it was expected that Wilson would get picked near the end of the first round. Instead, was picked 17th by the Bucks, who happen to be an ideal fit for the 6-10 big man.
However, it got me wondering, if Moe Wagner had stayed in the draft, instead of returning to Michigan basketball for another season, where would he have ended up?
Both players wanted to make sure they were first-round picks if they were going to stay and Wilson obviously predicted correctly that he would be. Wagner was projected a little later and at the end of the day, must have felt he wasn’t guaranteed to be a top-30 pick.
I’m just not sure he was right.
With Wagner, teams would be drafting on potential, a common thing in the NBA. Wilson was drafted so high largely for the same reason. But like Wilson, Wager has only scratched the surface.
Michigan Wolverines Basketball
The German-born Wagner took monumental steps forward in his sophomore season. He developed a 3-point shot, the ability to score with his back to the basket and honed his skills in the pick-and-roll.
There is no question Wagner is still raw, but he has great skills. His shot is only going to get better, while his other offensive skills such as passing and ball-handling should also continue to improve.
It’s true that Wagner needs more of an NBA body. He will have to get stronger and become a better defender, as well as a more effective rebounder.
Even with all that, the potential is clearly there and with guys like Kyle Kuzma of Utah and Tony Bradley of UNC going late first, it’s certainly plausible Wagner would have.
Wilson’s stock was higher among teams, no doubt, especially after Wagner put forth a poor combine performance. Yet, the sophomore probably did enough to warrant first-round selection.
Next: Top 10 Michigan Running Backs of All Time
So in that case, Michigan basketball is quite lucky. Wagner chose the safe path, but if he had bet on himself, he might be an NBA first-round pick right now.