Franz

Wagner

In Orlando’s first game without Franz Wagner (ankle), Black will slide into the starting unit. This will be Black’s fifth start this season, and he has generally been productive. Wagner is expected to miss multiple weeks, and if Black is able to maintain this starting role, he will be a must-roster player in most formats.

Franz landed awkwardly on his left leg during Sunday’s game, and while Charania’s report doesn’t include an official timeline from the team, managers should expect a multi-week absence. Anthony Black and Tristan da Silva both stepped up when Paolo Banchero missed time, and both should get a similar boost with Wagner unavailable.

Wagner went up for an alley-oop from Anthony Black and was fouled hard by Ariel Hukporti before landing awkwardly on his left leg. He will be re-evaluated when the Magic return to Orlando, so the severity of his injury is yet unknown. If he’s forced to miss time, Black, Tristan da Silva and Jett Howard are all candidates for increased run. Orlando’s next game will be an NBA Cup matchup with the Heat on Tuesday.

Wagner was in a slump with his three-point shot, making just six threes in his last eight games entering play Friday. The 24-year-old small forward got back on track against the Heat, knocking down four threes and leading the Magic to victory. Wagner had his first game with at least 30 points since his 37-point performance against the Knicks on November 22. The Magic still have one more game in Week 7, against the Knicks on Sunday.

Wagner had a chance to send Wednesday’s game into overtime, but San Antonio’s Luke Kornet blocked his layup attempt as time expired. The Magic forward has scored at least 21 points in four straight games, and he’s averaging 23 per game for the season. Wagner continues to close in on top-50 value in eight-cat formats and has already crossed that threshold in nine-cat. The Magic play two more games in Week 7, starting with the Heat on Friday.

Having turned in another efficient stat line, Wagner has scored at least 20 points in three straight and five of his last six games. The Magic have gone 7-2 since losing Paolo Banchero to a strained groin, and Wagner’s consistency is one reason for the excellent record. He’s provided top-75 value in eight- and nine-cat formats over the last nine games. While that doesn’t align with his Yahoo! ADP (36), it is still a good value for those who have Wagner rostered.

Wagner has scored at least 20 points in three of his last four and 15 of his 20 appearances this season. With Paolo Banchero (groin) out, the Magic have looked to Wagner more often, and on most nights, he has been up to the task. He finished Friday’s victory just a three-pointer and a blocked shot shy of a complete stat line, but managers will benefit from the points, rebounds and steals. The Magic play four games during Week 7, beginning with the Bulls on Monday.

Wagner didn’t have to extend himself too far on Tuesday, as the Magic were able to sit their key players for most of the second half. Over the past two weeks, he has been a sixth-round player in nine-cat formats, with the production being slightly lower than Wagner’s season-long value. While Franz’s season-long production hasn’t aligned with his Yahoo! ADP (36), he isn’t far off. Next up for Orlando is a matchup with the Pistons on Friday, with the winner advancing to the NBA Cup quarterfinals.

The Magic looked extremely sluggish on the second night of a back-to-back after a late arrival into Boston and playing without offensive catalyst Paolo Banchero for the sixth straight game while he continues recovering from a groin strain. Their struggles came mostly on the defensive end of the floor as they allowed the Celtics to shoot over 60 percent from the floor. Wagner took just 10 shots on the heels of a 37-point explosion during Saturday’s impressive win over the Knicks but managed to get to the line for eight free throw attempts to help salvage his night. The Magic have just two games this upcoming week with road matchups on tap against the 76ers and Pistons.

Wagner propelled Orlando to its sixth win in seven games, drilling 13 of 19 shots and four of six from beyond the arc in one of his most efficient outings of the season. The 24-year-old playmaker has topped 25 points in four of his last six contests and once again took the lead role with Paolo Banchero sidelined for a fifth straight game due to a lingering groin issue. It’s an encouraging development for fantasy managers, as Wagner will remain the Magic’s primary offensive engine until Banchero returns — a streak that will reach six games on Sunday against the Celtics.