The Wizards are second in the league in offensive rating and much of their success is a result of the Moritz Wagner–Davis Bertans pairing, as I wrote for NBAMath.com.
“It’s fun, fun as hell, excuse my language,” Wagner told Hoops Rumors and other media in attendance of playing within the second unit. “When the ball moves like that … it’s when in doubt, pass it to Davis. It’s ridiculous. It’s obviously a lot of fun, and when you play the game with that type of joy, good things happen to you. You’re locked in defensively, and you’re able to make runs.”
While the bench mob is pacing the league (only the Clippers are scoring more off the bench than the Wizards), it may not be here for long. Scott Brooks has left Bertans and Wagner on the floor to close out games recently, so a move to the starting lineup is possible for one player or both. Additionally, it was recently reported that Bertans may fetch a first-round pick in a trade. Enjoy the high-scoring bench-unit in the nation’s capital while you can.
Here’s more from Washington:
- A source tells Hoops Rumors that the Wizards contemplated moving up from the No. 44 pick to select Wagner in the 2018 draft. Los Angeles nabbed the big man with the No. 25 pick, though Washington remained admirers from afar and the team was thrilled to acquire him as part of the Anthony Davis deal.
- Travis Thomas and Quinton Mayo of NBC Sports wonder whether Bradley Beal will finally make an All-NBA team this season (video link). Beal was in the conversation for the honor last season, though missed out on being named to the list.
- Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington examines past teams that have had as high of a rating on offense (114.6) and defense (116.0) as the Wizards this season and finds that many of the squads have had success. 38 teams in NBA history have finished a season with ratings on both sides of the court above 110, and 24 of them made the postseason.
I think the Lakers could have gotten Wagner back if they tried. The Spurs did want Bertans back. Good trades for DC.
They got rid of him for cap room to try and go for Kawhi so there was no way to get him back after that… It’s not like they let them go in free agency they consciously moved him to go for a homerun that didn’t work out.
Right, then after the Lakers didn’t use the space for its purpose, they can make an offer to fill their need for a center (though not likely another PG, Bonga). The Wizards got Wagner, Bonga and a r2 for cash which I think could not exceed $5 mil… In other words they paid for the pick and the very moderate contracts (priced at $7 to 11MM) more than the players. Wagner would have been easy to reaquire at a loss of the r2, and maybe another.
Nobody cared; Wagner got cut from the German team. But like I posted several times, Wagner is the rare 5 that can be trusted with the ball anywhere and why isn’t Pelinka interested?– maybe there’s a rule against tradebacks.
Lakers could reaquire and the door would have been open. [mod holdup]
Spurs got screwed big time by Marcus Morris.
Please refer to him as Selfless Leader Marcus Morris.
At MM’s rate he will be Knicks HC.
Wagner a possible most improved candidate