The Orlando Magic have been on an upward trajectory as the team made the first round of the NBA Playoffs last year and are locking in one of their players for the future. Shams Charania of The Athletic is reporting that forward Franz Wagner has agreed to a five-year, $270 million maximum rookie contract extension.
This is a massive sign for the future of the Orlando Magic to lock down their superstar. The Michigan product was the eighth pick in the 2021 NBA draft and is now signed with the team for the foreseeable future and becomes a building block for this young core.
Franz Wagner finished last season averaging 19.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.1 steals while shooting 48.2% from the floor, 28.1% from three and 85.0% from the charity stripe.
What does the Franz Wagner extension mean for the Orlando Magic going forward?
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The Orlando Magic are in an interesting position as they were fifth in the Eastern Conference with a 47-35 record last season. The team has been trying to lock down a superstar as they continue to build their roster as they have Wagner with guys like point guard Jalen Suggs, power forward Paolo Banchero, and center Wendell Carter Jr. to build around.
This Orlando team has been building for a while as they finally seem to have an identity for the first time since the days of Dwight Howard dominating for the franchise. This extension though can show a star player that the front office has built a strong foundation in the Eastern Conference and this team has some playoff experience now.
What is next for the Orlando Magic?
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The Orlando Magic are in a great position, similar to what the Brooklyn Nets were before they had Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving join in free agency. They have a young core that is ready to take that next step and continue improving. They can continue to improve as they have the Denver Nuggets (protected 1-5) and their own 2025 first-round picks and a pair of ones in 2026 as well.
That means they can be in the market for a trade to get a disgruntled star or continue to build up their core through the NBA draft. Either way, the Orlando Magic have a lot of options.
About the Author
Vincent Pensabene graduated from Saint Leo University in 2019 with a B.A. in Sport Business and has focused on the media side of sports. He writes for multiple publications and is interested in the reasoning of why things happen. Feel free to follow him on social media @TalkVinTalk and discuss all things sports.
