The Lakers selected University of Michigan, by way of Germany, big man Mo Wagner with the 25th pick in the 1st round in Thursday’s NBA draft. Wagner, a 6’11” Junior who returned to Michigan after pulling his name out of last year’s draft, was a key player on runner up to the college national championship, averaging 14.6 points and 7.1 rebounds a game this year.
Wagner is a bit of a “left field” pick for me — though I’m not a draftnik by any means. He was the 38th ranked prospect in ESPN’s Jonathan Givony’s top 100 and the 34th ranked in The Ringer’s draft guide.