The Orlando Magic (21-15) are on-pace to produce their most wins since 2010-11. That doesn’t mean the Magic won’t make a major move before the NBA’s trade deadline.
In his Jan. 5 substack, NBA Insider Marc Stein reported that rival executives believe Magic may move forward Wendell Carter Jr. prior to the Feb.8th deadline.
While it was thought that Orlando could make a jump this year, the Magic have exceeded expectations thus far. The Magic, who haven’t made the playoffs in three years, sit in place in the Eastern Conference.
Stein pointed out that the Magic have a deep frontcourt, and Carter has only played in 13 games due to hand and knee injuries. Stein also mentioned that Carter has come off the bench lately. Stein’s final point as to why it is believed that the Magic may move Carter was that they would need to re-sign Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero to rookie scale extensions.
NBA Rumors: League Executives Believe The Magic May Be Willing To Move Forward Wendell Carter Before Trade Deadline
All the points made in Stein’s article were spot on. However, if Orlando intends to trade Carter, those arguments are more prevalent to moving Carter after the season rather than during the season.
Orlando Should Wait To Trade Carter Until After the Season
Yes, Orlando is currently exceeding expectations, and they are in a solid position to end their playoff drought. However, the Eastern Conference is very deep, with eight teams already garnering 20 victories.
So, with the Magic on the verge of possibly ending their playoff drought, they must keep as much talent as possible. After getting eight games above .500 on Dec. 11, the Magic struggled. The Magic just ended a three-game losing streak with a 122-120 victory on Friday over Denver and now have won two straight. The Magic also beat the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday and are 5-8 over their last 13.
Make no mistake, Carter is supremely gifted, though very much injury-prone.
Carter has been one of the Magic’s best players the last two years, averaging a career-high 15 points in 2021-22 and 2022-23. He set a career high with 10.7 rebounds a game in 2021-22 and grabbed 8.7 boards. Granted, the 24-year-old has struggled in the early going due to injuries and poor shooting. Still, he averages 8.7 points and 6.4 rebounds, which is second on the team, in 24.4 minutes.
Carter has never been overly efficient offensive. While shooting 42.5% from the field is unacceptable, his shooting numbers will improve once he finds consistency.
Carter does provide some things that the Magic’s other frontcourt players don’t. Carter is a more complete offensive player than Goga Bitadze, Chuma Okele, and Jonathan Issac. He is also a better 3-point shooter, an area in which he has improved the last three seasons, than Bitadze, Moritz Wagner, and Isaac. Carter is averaging one trey a game at a career-best 40.6% from beyond the arc this season.
Carter is not a great team defender, although defense is a massive problem for the Magic. But he is a physical presence in the low post. Isaac and Bitadze thrive on that end, while Moe Wagner is also indifferent defensively.
Should The Magic Look To Trade Carter In The Offseason?
Injuries have been Carter’s most significant deterrent to reaching his true potential. The 6-10, 270-pounder has not played more than 62 games in a season and has already missed 24 contests this year. Carter is currently dealing with a knee injury.
But Carter is not the only Magic player that has struggled with injuries. Markelle Fultz, Gary Harris, Joe Ingles, and Isaac also have a recent history of significant injuries. Harris, Ingles, Isaac, and Franz Wagner are currently on the shelf. On the plus side, Fultz is slated to return to the court soon after being sidelined since Nov. 10 with a knee injury.
With Carter’s trade value unknown and all the injury history of the Magic players, it is in the Magic’s best interest to hold on to the burly fella for now.
As mentioned above, the offseason would be the best opportunity if the Magic want to move Carter. After this season, Carter will have two years and $22.8 million on the four-year deal rookie scale extension he signed on Oct. 16, 2021.
Orlando currently has 11 players under contract for a payroll total of $104 million. The Magic will likely have to decide what to do with Isaac, whose $17.4 million salary is completely nonguaranteed. If the Magic decide to keep Isaac, that will probably mean that Carter will be on the trade block.
The Magic have some flexibility, with Ingles’ $11 million salary for 2024-25 being a club option. Fultz, Okeke (RFA), and Bitadze are also slated to be free agents this summer.
Orlando projects to have $62 million in cap space this summer. So, they can add a few veterans to go with their youngsters. Franz Wagner will be eligible for a rookie scale extension this summer, while Banchero will be next summer.
