Michigan Basketball: Multiple top-10 teams are eyeing Franz Wagner

The NBA draft is coming and it’s likely that former Michigan basketball star Franz Wagner will get picked in the top 10, especially after a trade on Monday.

Former Michigan basketball standout Franz Wagner is going to hear his name fairly early on Thursday during the first round of the 2021 NBA draft and if the Memphis Grizzlies have their way, it sounds like Wagner won’t last past the top 10.

There has been talk of Wagner going as high as No. 9 to the Sacramento Kings. But after Memphis pulled off a trade with New Orleans that involved the 10th pick, rumors began to fly on Twitter that the Grizzlies are targeting Wagner.

However, according to CBS Sports, Memphis won’t get the chance to draft Wagner, which still has Franz going to the King in its latest 2021 NBA mock draft:

"“Sacramento has for weeks been linked to Michigan forward Franz Wagner and, for weeks, he has been a mainstay here in my mock. So I’ll continue to keep him here. Still only 19 years old after spending two seasons in college yet has the frame, shooting, and defense to be an early NBA contributor.”"

Wagner is listed at 6-foot-9 and averaged nearly 13 points per game last season for Michigan basketball while also turning into an elite defender who can guard positions 1-4. His 3-point shot was inconsistent but he’s a strong free-throw shooter and when he finds more consistency from the perimeter, he will be a really effective two-way player.

That might be why Sports Illustrated has Wagner going off the board at No. 8 overall to the Orlando Magic.

"“With several young guards already on the roster, Orlando can theoretically pick from the wings available here, with Wagner, Moses Moody, and Ziaire Williams among those linked. Rival teams believe Magic are interested in trading this pick in the right scenario, as they don’t necessarily need to add multiple rookies to their roster.”"

Regardless of where he ends up, the trade by Memphis into the top 10 on Monday seemed to make it even more likely that Wagner goes in the top 10 Thursday night.

Austin Davis signs in Poland

In other news of Michigan basketball players and professional basketball, former Wolverine Austin Davis signed a contract with a Poland team on Monday it was announced on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/Anwil_official/status/1419549779982491652

Davis wasn’t a superstar with Michigan but he turned into an effective low-post player. He averaged 5.4 points per game this season while making 70 percent of his shots from the field and grabbing 2.8 rebounds per game.

Good luck, Austin, and thanks for the memories.