Its easy to comment from the outside looking in, but it seems he lacks the work ethic to improve his game significantly. With experience he'll improve, but without hard work it will be minimal. He's got skills, but he could develop it further, he can be a real gunner. But that hard work isn't just about scoring. It is the basic fundamentals of defense, working off the ball and ball distribution. We can only hope he sees the light and really has a dig this summer!
That's a good question. I fear while Wagner will improve, it won't be the skills necessary to prolong his Cleveland career. He has shown that his offense will get better. Dajuan added 3-point range and his stroke looks good. His rookie year, I feared he would be a career streak shooter, never having a decent shot. But in time, I like Wagner could have a real beautiful stroke. More work needs to be done but it's improved (just from looking at it) a lot. This summer he'll probably work on his left hand for dribbling and floaters. That will make him a better scorer, making defenders more honest and not just load up on his right side. But... The greatest thing Wagner could do is work on passing and full court ballhandling. His handle in the half court is very good. I don't have any worries there. But handles in the sense of a PG, means full court handles and that needs work. And I ditto the defense thing. In the past, he's hired personal trainers (note his build, he was once a skinny kid but lifted like mad). Let's hope Wagner hires another personal trainer this summer for lateral movement, to help on defense.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting KarmaCav:</div><div class="quote_post">Wagner is a benchrider till he can do all those things we keep listing! 1. Defend 2. Dribble both ways 3. Realise he has teammates 4. Control his game by not forcing shots 5. Stop reaching in for dumb fouls etc.</div> 1. Dajuan Wagner can defend at the point, obviously he's going to have problems at shooting guard when guys are on average 4-6 inches taller than him. This is why the guy should primarily play the point postion, they need to give him quality time at that postion to develop and mold him. After all, that's what your suppose to do with a lottery pick prospect, not bury him in your bench. 2. Perhaps I'm missing this. I have yet to notice Wagner's inability to go both ways on the dribble. If that were the case it would be on every team's scouting report prior to them playing Cleveland, meaning whoever would be defending Wagner would be well aware of this flaw. Thus you'd see the defender getting more steals if he knew which way Wagner was going on the dribble. Yet for some strange reason Wagner only averages 1.5 turnovers on his career. Strange... 3. He's a young guy who in high school and college was primarily just a scoring shooting guard. The guy played one year of college hoops, it's no secret he's still inexperienced at the point guard postion and has trouble distributing the ball. However, that's the case for alot of young prospects who leave college early and switch from shooting to point, scoring to passing. Case and point Gilbert Arenas, his situation is quite similar to Wagners. These are things that take time, time builds experience, and you certainly don't build experience with the lack of time on the hardwood that Wagner is receiving currently. When you draft a prospect who left college early they become a project. You teach them, you put them in REAL game situations, and you let them develop. Once again, Gilbert is the perfect example, he turned out great and made the transition. 4. Once again, he's a young guy who's used to being primarily a scorer. Time will develop him into a wiser player, but without time he won't develop at all. 5. Reaching in for dumb fouls? This sounds as strange as his inability to dribble to the left. Wagner only averages a shade above 2 personal fouls a game, so apperantly he's not reaching in, or fouling for that matter too often
Do you watch a lot of Cavs games KJ x3? Because based on what you say, Im guessing that you don't. Wagner's inability to go to his left hand is common knowledge. Everytime he gets the ball and starts to make a move you can see the defender automatically shade to Wagner's right, ready to jump over quickly and pick up the charge. Wagner gets this kind of charging foul just about every game that he plays in. How can you say Wagner can defend the point? Seeing as how he hasn't played point all year, I think it would be hard to say he can guard the opposing teams point guard. The Cavs can't play him at the point because he's not a good point guard! Please, watch some tapes from last year when the Cavs tried this. It didn't work. He doesn't have that good of court vision, he's not that great of a ball handler, and he's doesn't even average 1 assist a game and you think he should be a point guard? Wagner only averages a couple fouls a game because he plays limited minutes. He averages 2.3 fouls in 17 minutes of action. If he played starter minutes (35-40) he'd be averaging nearly 5 fouls a game. You don't think thats a little high for a guard? I sure do. You are going to have to come up with better arguments than that my friend. Did I mention that his assist to turnover ratio is under 1? That should be all the evidence you need for why he shouldn't be a point guard.
Karma basicially said it all about Juanny in his 5 points. I think though he also has to become more of a finisher. He can't make a shot when it means anything, and nothing I think urks me more than when juanny cuts to the basket around one guy, through another, cuts all the way to the hole and misses the layup.
I for one see no problem here. I am fine with Wagner's role right now, I just don't see a "need" or "stress" for him as of now. The thing he needs is just time, games played. He did progress this year by adding a better long range shot and has been clutch at times late in games. I'll take it, the reason my many are on his back is because they know his potential and know how he can play, but let's just take it easy, not rush the kid.
KJX3, If Wagner wanted to play pg, Silias would be more than happy to mold him at that position. But like i said, WAGNER DOES NOT WANT TO PLAY PG. You can't make someone do something they are not willing to do.
Wagner needs a much better mid range shot if he wants to get better in this league. All he has are those floaters and a deep 3. Most times he puts his head down and runs into the big trees of the league where guys are just too big for him. He needs to watch Earl Boykins.
