The Orlando Magic maintained one of the key frontcourt players by signing Wendell Carter Jr. to a new three-year, $59 million contract extension on Monday night, per Shams Charania of ESPN.
This means that the 25-year-old center is under contract with the Orlando Magic through the 2028-29 campaign and will make roughly $82 million, which includes the two remaining years of his previous four-year, $50 million contract he signed in 2022-23.
Wendell Carter Jr. has been a key rotation player for the Orlando Magic since they acquired him from the Chicago Bulls in 2020-21.
The former No. 7 pick is one of the most underrated stretch bigs in the league today, and last season, he averaged 11.0 points and 6.9 rebounds on 52.5 percent shooting from the field and 37.4 percent from three-point land in 25.6 minutes per game across 55 regular season appearances (48 starts).
Earlier this offseason, the Orlando Magic re-signed Moritz Wagner and Goga Bitadze and extended Jonathan Isaac, adding beef to their frontcourt alongside Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero.
Orlando Magic hopes for a healthy year from Wendell Carter Jr.
Injuries have been a problem for Wendell Carter Jr. since he only played at least 60 regular season games once in his three full seasons with the team.
Hand, knee, and back injuries limited him last season, and on Monday, Carter suffered a sprained ankle in the Orlando Magic’s 106-104 preseason loss against the New Orleans Pelicans.
According to Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley, Carter will be re-assessed before the team’s second preseason match against the San Antonio Spurs.
“You hate to see anybody get hurt, especially a starter, a big part of the team,” Paolo Banchero said. “I told him, ‘Sit out the rest of the preseason. We’re going to need you Game 1.’ So, hopefully, it’s not too bad and he can be ready by the start of the season.”
