It had already been hinted at, and now it’s official: Moritz Wagner has confirmed media reports that he is joining the Brooklyn Nets. The Berlin native is leaving the Magic and his brother Franz after six years together.
As ESPN reporter Shams Charania reports, Wagner has agreed to a two-year, $19 million contract offer. The 29-year-old confirmed this information—which aligns with reports from other U.S. media outlets—himself on his podcast “Kannst du so nicht sagen”: “My girlfriend and I still can’t believe it,” Wagner said. “My girlfriend drove straight to the NBA Store and bought a cap. We’re just staying home.”
According to media reports, the contract includes a mutual option to reevaluate the salary after one season. Wagner and the Nets could then either agree (by mutual consent) to guarantee the full $19 million or negotiate a potentially higher-paying contract. Last season, he earned five million dollars in Orlando, meaning he has nearly doubled his annual salary.
Wagner had recently revealed on his podcast that he had already moved his primary residence to the Big Apple some time ago. Now he’s managed to find an employer in the same region as well.
No Future in Orlando
For the 29-year-old, the Nets are already his fifth stop in the NBA. His career began with the Lakers, followed by stints with the Wizards and Boston. The Berlin native finally found a home alongside his brother Franz in Orlando, where the two have played side by side since Franz was drafted in 2021 and even lived together at times.
Over the past two seasons, a torn ACL set Wagner back, causing him to play only 66 games since the start of the 2024–25 season. After his comeback in the spring, he struggled to regain his former form. His average of 6.9 points last season marked a personal low since his rookie year in L.A.
He is “totally relieved financially,” Wagner admitted on the podcast. “After an injury like that, you don’t know what the market will look like for you.”
Another factor contributing to his lack of form was his relatively limited playing time of 11.9 minutes, as he had to compete with two other players at his position: Wendell Carter Jr. and Goga Bitadze. In addition, the Magic recently signed Nikola Vucevic.
In Brooklyn, on the other hand, the situation is different. Following the trade of Nicolas Claxton, the Nets currently have only one nominal center (Day’Ron Sharpe). The team is also still in the midst of a rebuild. As one of the oldest players on the team, Wagner can likely expect to take on a mentoring role here, with significantly more playing time.
