Los Angeles Lakers: Three players that will be under the microscope

By Jason Reed | Sep 19, 2018

CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 14: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers embrace during the first half at Quicken Loans Arena on December 14, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

1. PF/C Moritz Wagner

The Los Angeles Lakers enter the 2018-2019 NBA season with a lot of questions that need to be answered. One of the biggest questions surrounding the Lakers entering the season is how the team is going to fare at the center position and what the long-term plans are.

For now, the Lakers have a short-term answer after bringing in JaVale McGee to split minutes with the other big men on the roster. However, McGee is far from the most productive center and will be out of Los Angeles after the 2018-2019 season.

The two players tasked to potentially carry the position moving forward are 2016 second round pick Ivica Zubac and 2018 first round pick, Moritz Wagner. Zubac has potential that has shown in spurts but is not yet tapped into and Wagner is yet to be seen against true NBA level competition.

Wagner is more of a power forward than a center due to his ability to stretch the floor but his size and shot blocking ability make him a fit at the center position. If he can get better at rebounding the basketball for his size, he should make a good center, especially in today’s NBA.

Watching Wagner off the bench is going to help the Lakers determine whether or not the team needs to bring in outside help next offseason or if LA can simply add depth pieces and give Wagner a bigger role alongside Zubac.

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