Franz Wagner sidelined indefinitely with left ankle injury
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Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner will remain out for an undetermined period after lingering soreness in his left ankle forced the team to shut him down heading into the post–All-Star break, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Charania reported that the 24-year-old is still dealing with pain from the high ankle sprain he sustained on December 7 in New York. Wagner has missed 25 of Orlando’s last 29 games, appearing only twice in mid-January and in the club’s final two contests before the break. He never fully recovered and now requires additional rehabilitation.
The Magic said Wagner will be re-evaluated in three weeks, a timetable that would cost him at least the next 10 games and could extend beyond that.
Before the injury, Wagner was producing at an All-Star level, averaging 23.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 34.5 minutes through 23 healthy outings. Orlando opened the season 14-9 with him in the lineup but has gone 14-16 since, sitting at 28-25 and holding a half-game edge over Miami for the No. 7 spot in the Eastern Conference.
Wagner came off the bench in his most recent appearances, so head coach Jamahl Mosley will not need to alter the starting five for Thursday’s game in Sacramento. Reserve forward Noah Penda, who has logged increased minutes during Wagner’s absence, is expected to remain part of the rotation.
Source: Hoops Rumors
