When the Nets added Moritz Wagner, they didn’t get a needed shot-blocker.
asserted
they → add → blocker
But they did get a veteran backup to Day’Ron Sharpe.
asserted
they → get → Sharpe
And a different look from any center they’ve had in years.
asserted
they → have → years
Wagner — signed away from the Magic, and younger brother Franz — isn’t going to replace the departed Nic Claxton’s rim protection.
asserted
Wagner → sign → protection
But he’s going to be a defensive disruptor, playing a style under Jordi Fernández that may fit his skills better than Orlando’s — which relied on elite athleticism and rebounding — ever did.
uncertain
which → go → athleticism
“I’ll be honest with you, I love this.
asserted
I → love → this
I want to be disruptive.
asserted
I → want → ?
I want to be active on the ball,” Wagner, 29, said.
asserted
Wagner → want → ball
“I don’t think it’s a secret — I’ve been in the league eight years — I’m not a shot-blocker.
asserted
I → think → league
I contest shots and I give it my all, but I’m not Anthony Davis.
asserted
I → contest → all
I’m not going to beat people up on the rim.
asserted
I → go → rim
“So I like to be aggressive early, and I want to be disruptive and be able to make people speed up and take charges and stuff like that.
asserted
people → like → that
So I’m actually extremely excited about that stuff because it plays a little more towards my strength.
asserted
it → ’m → strength
We have all these quick guards, they’ll help you to eat up space.
asserted
you → have → space
It’s easy for Wagner to enjoy his time with rebuilding Brooklyn now, before the losses start.
asserted
losses → ’ → Brooklyn
But while he’ll miss his brother, whose tenure in Orlando is going to be watched carefully all season,Wagner will be a fit both schematically and culturally.
asserted
Wagner → miss → Orlando
The Nets struggled defensively even before dealing Claxton.
asserted
Nets → struggle → Claxton
Now they’re even more bereft of rim protection.
asserted
they → ’re → protection
But Fernández wants to play up at the level and be more aggressive further upcourt to force turnovers, unlike Orlando, which defended the rim and dominated the glass.
asserted
which → want → glass
The Nets inked Wagner to a two-year, $19 million deal this summer understanding that he’s not going to be a shot-blocker, but a shotmaker, and a vocal defender.
asserted
he → ink → deal
For his part, Fernández doesn’t anticipate changing schemes but leaning even further into what the Nets do.
asserted
Nets → anticipate → what
“No, the reality is we have an identity defensively and we’re going to stick with what we believe works. …
asserted
we → have → identity
Then the more you grow, the more you can expand your coverages,” Fernández said.
asserted
Fernández → grow → coverages
“So we’re going to be an aggressive team on both ends of the floor.”
asserted
we → go → floor
Wagner should also feel comfortable living in New York.
asserted
Wagner → feel → York
He’s already been doing it.
asserted
He → do → it
“I’ve always loved New York.
asserted
I → love → York
I love that I get an opportunity to play here, and at a point where this organization is trying to make the next steps to win.
asserted
organization → love → steps
I’m excited to be here,” Wagner said.
asserted
Wagner → ’m → ?
“I’ve spent a lot of time in New York.
asserted
I → spend → York
This is somewhat of a home to me in America just because it reminds me a lot of where I’m from.
asserted
I → remind → where
Brooklyn is as close as it gets in the U.S. to Berlin.
asserted
it → get → Berlin
So I’m not necessarily new here.
asserted
I → ’m → ?
I take the subway all the time.
asserted
I → take → subway
I love the subway.
asserted
I → love → subway
It’s so convenient, cheap when you go into Manhattan.
asserted
you → ’ → Manhattan
So yeah, I’ve actually lived here for quite some time.
asserted
I → live → time
So yeah, I love Brooklyn.
asserted
I → love → Brooklyn
I love New York.”
asserted
I → love → York
His younger brother seemingly does as well.
asserted
brother → do → ?
…and 8 more, not listed.
The Aporia
