The Brooklyn Nets finally added some size on Wednesday morning, and this time it came in the form of Mo Wagner.
Wagner agreed to a two-year, $19 million deal, according to Mike Scotto of HoopsHype. The contract comes with a second-year mutual option, meaning either Wagner or the Nets can choose to trigger that final season and lock in the remaining $9 million.
If both sides pass, he’ll be back on the market next summer. Brooklyn used the same setup in its deal with Keon Ellis, reported last night.
For a Nets roster that was starting to look thin in the frontcourt, Wagner brings exactly what the team needed: a physical presence and another true center. Before this signing, Day’Ron Sharpe looked like the only real five on the roster. That matters even more now that Mitchell Robinson, another name tied to Brooklyn in reports, has signed with the Boston Celtics.
Wagner arrives after six seasons with the Orlando Magic, where he spent last year earning nearly twice what he made the season before. His final season in Orlando included 36 appearances, 6.9 points per game and 3.2 rebounds per game, numbers posted after he worked his way back from an ACL tear the year before.
There’s also a little Brooklyn history here. Before the 2018 NBA Draft, Wagner and people close to him seemed to have a soft spot for the Nets.
During Michigan’s championship run, his family showed up at the 2018 Big 10 Tournament at Madison Square Garden wearing Brooklyn gear. Wagner also said he roots for the Nets over the Knicks during a big board Q&A at the tournament.
And this summer, he and his girlfriend were said to have been staying in the borough, which makes the whole thing feel a little more connected than your average free-agent signing.
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