NEW YORK -- Brooklyn Nets center Mo Wagner could have joined any team this offseason after spending the past six season with the Orlando Magic in his pursue of winning a championship. Brooklyn signed Wagner as one of the team's veteran free-agent additions and while he's unsure of what his role will be, he appears to have a great reason for signing with the Nets.
"I think the one answer leads into the other. I think it's been very transparent, very honest, very straightforward, and that kind of was enough to hear," Wagner said during his Media Day interview on Monday. It took some time, but Wagner eventually signed with the Nets on a two-year, $18.45 million deal that includes a mutual option on the second year of the contract.
"Knowing Jordi
a little bit from the international competitions and hearing about the organization, it really wasn't a [hard] decision. It was just a matter of how we're going to do it," Wagner continued. "I've always loved New York. I love that I get an opportunity to play here. Obviously, at a point where this organization is trying to to make the next steps to win, I'm very very excited to be here."
Wagner, 29, is coming off a 2025-26 NBA season where he averaged 6.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game while shooting 42.6% from the field and 81.9% from the free-throw line. Wagner played in just 36 games last season after returning in January following his recovery from a torn ACL in his left knee and that could explain why his numbers were as good as they normally were.
The last time that Wagner had a fully-healthy season was in 2023-24 when he played 80 games (one start) and averaged 10.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game while shooting 60.1% from the floor and 33.0% from deep. Wagner could have chosen to sign with a number of contending teams looking for frontcourt depth, but he chose Brooklyn because of head coach Jordi Fernandez, general manager Sean Marks, and the opportunity to be part of the rebuild.
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets' Mo Wagner explains what brought him to Brooklyn this season
