The Orlando Magic is set to have Wendell Carter Jr. through the 2028-29 season after signing him to a three-year, $59 million extension on Monday, according to NBA insider Shams Charania.
Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. has agreed to a three-year, $59 million contract extension, per his agent Mike Miller of LIFT Sports Management. Carter secures his maximum extension and $82M in new deal through 2028-29 season. pic.twitter.com/7qicNLEYcg
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 8, 2024
With Carter Jr. locked for the next five years, is the up-and-coming center still a valuable trade piece down the road?
Carter Jr. still has two remaining years left on his current deal but the Magic could not risk losing their big man for nothing if he becomes available in the free-agency market in 2026.
The Magic’s view of the 6-foot-11 center as an important member of their core appears to have persuaded the organization to sign Carters to a three-year extension.
After putting solid numbers in his first three seasons with the Chicago Bulls, Carter Jr arrived in Orlando in 2021 as part of the package in exchange for then All-Star big man Nikola Vucevic.
The Duke product has continued to produce decent numbers over the next four seasons with the Magic, serving as the team’s defensive anchor and high-percentage scorer.
Carter Jr. had his breakout year in his first full season with the Magic (2021-22 season), averaging 15.0 points and 10.5 rebounds while shooting 52.5 percent from the field. He then followed up strong by averaging 15.2 ppg. on 52.5 percent shooting and 8.7 rpg. during the 2022-23 season.
Although Carter Jr.’s numbers went down to 11.0 ppg. and 6.9 rpg. last season, he still posted a strong defensive rating of 111.0 while averaging 6.9 rebounds per game.
What is Wendell Carter Jr’s Trade Value?
The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the teams who reportedly expressed interest in trading for the Magic big man, believing he fits next to Anthony Davis in their frontline.
At that time, Carter Jr is an enticing trade target for any contender because of his defensive acumen and consistently high percentage shots while playing on a team-friendly $11 million per year deal.
Will Wendell Carter, Jr. be the perfect complement to Anthony Davis in the Lakers' frontcourt? pic.twitter.com/hBgonuTraP
— Lakers News (@lakersnewscom) September 8, 2024
However, following the Magic’s decision to lock up the big man for three more years, NBA teams who previously fielded strong interest in him are expected to no longer aggressively pursue a trade for him because he now has a longer deal that will affect their financial flexibility in the future.
Make no mistake, Carter Jr. is still a valuable commodity on the trade market since the NBA is running out of true centers.
But in an era of NBA basketball where financial flexibility is valued more than making upgrades – thanks to the creation of the second apron on the salary cap – it’s evident that Wendell Carter Jr. is no longer a trade candidate, at least for the time being.
