Moritz Wagner wasted little time giving the Brooklyn Nets a look at what he can bring to their second unit.
In Tuesday’s preseason opener, Brooklyn rolled past the Charlotte Hornets 124-90, and Wagner was right in the middle of the mix. He finished with five points, four rebounds, five assists and a steal in 18 minutes, a tidy line that showed more than just the lone corner 3-pointer he knocked down. The veteran big man kept the ball moving and found open teammates throughout the night.
That kind of versatility is part of why the Nets brought him in. Wagner is projected to back up first-year starter Day’Ron Sharpe after spending more than five seasons with the Orlando Magic, where he carved out a role as a dependable bench piece. He comes to Brooklyn as a career 32.3%-shooter from 3-point range, giving the team’s center group a level of spacing that hasn’t been there in some time.
For head coach Jordi Fernández, the preseason win was about more than the final score. Brooklyn shot 55% from the field and 54% from deep, and Fernández liked what he saw from a roster that used 18 players on the night.
"When you win every quarter, its a good sign," Fernández said. "We have different groups...they did whatever it took to get wins every quarter.
That mindset is important. It was a closer first half but happy with the intentions, the effort and the good things quarter by quarter."
Wagner’s fit is easy to see on offense. He plays with energy, makes quick reads and can stretch the floor, which gives Brooklyn another dimension behind Sharpe.
The concern is on the other end, where rim protection remains a question. Wagner has never averaged a block per game, and Sharpe is more of an offensive-minded big as well.
Still, the Nets have added some size around that pairing. Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr. can rebound at a solid rate and hold their own, which should help shore up the frontcourt.
Health is the one caveat with Wagner. He appeared in only 66 games for the Magic over the last two seasons, but when he’s been on the floor, he’s produced. From 2022-2025, Wagner averaged double-digits off the bench and served as Orlando’s spark plug, bringing the kind of edge that can change the tone of a game.
Brooklyn got a first glimpse of that on Tuesday.
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