This interview is why we should be excited about Wagner. There is an expectation for improvement when you have young guys, but it means different things to different people. Wagner understands what he needs to do to become a good player.
It's terrific that he is being more assertive, but that only matters if he is playing well, which has been hit and miss thus far. He is pretty far from being a good NBA player right now, but you can see that he is making progress and when he speaks, you know that he appreciates where he needs to improve.
I know it's enough for some that he scores 25 points, but when it comes on 24 field goal attempts and with one assist, that's not really evidence of improved play. Given that the most significant factor holding him back before this season was a lack of assertiveness, this is still a positive sign. I like how he is learning to use his length and I like that he uses his dribble to work his way into spots that can make a defense uncomfortable. Unfortunately, he isn't finishing well enough to force teams to react right now. He knows this. He will improve. When teams can no longer get by with defending him straight up, that will unlock an entirely new level in his development.
