The Brooklyn Nets are continuing to bring in veteran players. They have agreed to a two-year, $19 million contract with veteran big man Mo Wagner.
How We Got Here:
The Brooklyn Nets are coming off a season in which they finished 20-62, which was 13th in the Eastern Conference. They had a lot more questions than answers the entire season and need to make some changes during free agency if they want to improve their record at all.
The major change that they made was trading for Julius Randle as part of a three-team deal with the Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves. However, that trade left them with a big hole at center as they had to part ways with Nic Claxton, who had been their main man for the past few seasons.
Wagner is coming off a down year after being limited to just 36 appearances because of a torn ACL he suffered in December of 2024. His season debut was in January, so he never got in rhythm and averaged 6.9 points and 3.2 rebounds in 11.9 minutes per game. However, he has shown flashes of being one of the best backup centers in the league, averaging 11.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game on 56.0% from the field and 32.9% from three from the 2022-23 season through the start of his 2024-25 campaign.
His Impact:
Wagner will be able to fill in the hole that Claxton left behind very well. He can stretch the floor with consistent three-point shooting, attack closeouts, finish around the rim, and create offense through intelligent cuts and movement. On top of that, he has built a reputation as one of the league’s most passionate competitors, constantly celebrating teammates’ success, bringing energy to the bench, and playing with an edge that often changes the momentum of games.
Aside from his on-the-court impact, he is going to have a sneaky impact on the Nets’ lottery odds. With the new 3-2-1 lottery format, teams that are in the lower end of the Play-In tournament get more favorable odds. Adding Wagner makes this team better and increases their chances of getting a higher draft pick.
This is an interesting move for the Nets. It allows them ot have a veteran center that can not only elevate the team’s depth but also provide meaningful minutes throughout the season. On top of that, it makes them a better overall team, putting them in a perfect position for a better draft pick.
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