Wendell Carter Jr. just secured the bag, and Magic fans are buzzing!
Magic’s Big Man Gets Paid
So, here’s the scoop: Wendell Carter Jr. is sticking with the Orlando Magic for the long haul. The dude just inked a sweet three-year, $59 million extension, thanks to his agent, Mike Miller from LIFT Sports Management. This means Carter’s got his Magic jersey locked in until the 2028-29 season, raking in a total of $82 million when you count the two years left on his current deal. Not too shabby, right?
But wait, there’s more! ESPN’s Tim Bontemps spilled the beans that the new contract includes a team option for the last year. Carter’s journey with the Magic started back in the 2020-21 season when they snagged him from the Chicago Bulls. And now, he’s one of 16 players since July to sign an extension. Talk about making moves!
Hereโs the breakdown of the extension for Carter Jr.
He becomes the 16th player since July 6 to sign an extension (not including rookie or super max).
โ Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42)
From the Bench to the Spotlight
Last season, Carter showed some serious hustle. In 55 games, he averaged 11 points, 6.9 rebounds, and nearly 2 assists per game. His shooting was on point too, hitting 52.5% from the field and a career-best 37.4% from beyond the arc. Not bad for a guy who spent some time recovering from a knee injury, right? In my opinion, Carter’s got the potential to be a real game-changer for the Magic if he keeps this up.
Remember that game against the Suns? Carter came back from his injury and dropped 17 points, grabbed five boards, and dished out two assists. Coach Jamahl Mosley couldn’t stop singing his praises, saying Carter did a “heck of a job” stepping back onto the court. And let’s not forget his season-high 25 points against the Sixers. The guy was on fire!
Magic’s Playoff Push
Orlando’s been on a roll lately, making it to the playoffs for the first time since 2020. They finished the season with a 47-35 record and even pushed the Cavaliers to a Game 7 in the opening round. Sure, they didn’t make it past the first round, but hey, progress is progress!
This offseason, the Magic have been busy. They’ve re-signed backup centers Goga Bitadze and Moritz Wagner, extended Jonathan Isaac, and brought in veteran guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. With stars like Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner leading the charge, Orlando’s looking pretty solid. Speaking of trades, did you catch that wild Curry rumor? Just kidding, but seriously, the Magic are building something special.
So, here’s the big question: Can Wendell Carter Jr. and the revamped Magic squad make a deeper playoff run next season? Only time will tell, but I’m betting they’ll surprise us all. What do you think?
