The new four-year extension for center Wendell Carter Jr. is a good deal for both him and the Magic, writes Josh Robbins of The Athletic. Robbins sees the $50MM extension as a much safer investment than the five-year, $100MM contract the Cavaliers gave Jarrett Allen this summer. Carter, who was acquired from the Bulls in March, is a year younger than Allen and appears to have a long career ahead as a reliable big man who can rebound and switch on defense.
New head coach Jamahl Mosley has asked Carter to start taking more three-pointers and has used him at power forward during the preseason alongside Mo Bamba. With Jonathan Isaac and Chuma Okeke both sidelined by injuries, Carter and Bamba could be in the starting lineup for Wednesday’s season opener.
“The one thing that helps him is that he’s got great, active feet, and I think him understanding who’s a shooter, a non-shooter, those are going to be some scenarios that we’re going to have to continue to monitor,” Mosley said about Carter’s ability to defend outside the lane. “But I think he did a really good job of understanding how he could guard some of these fours in the league.”
There’s more from Orlando:
- The Magic have one more day to work out an extension with Bamba, but Robbins doesn’t expect it to happen. He notes that Bamba was slowed by an injury and then COVID-19 during his first two offseasons, and this summer was his first chance to really improve his conditioning. If Bamba turns in a strong season, he could be in demand as a restricted free agent in July.
- Cole Anthony was productive in the preseason after a disappointing performance during Summer League, Robbins notes in a separate story. Anthony may have been dealing with an injury in Las Vegas as he said, “It’s a world’s difference just how much better I feel right now.” He will likely start the season as the back-up point guard, although that could change when Markelle Fultz returns after offseason knee surgery.
- The Magic are in position to make a significant move before the trade deadline, according to John Hollinger of The Athletic. Orlando has a $17.1MM trade exception after sending Evan Fournier to the Celtics last season, along with $22.5MM in breathing room below the tax line.
Being a year younger than Allen is a bit deceiving, as they will both have started their new deals at the same age. Allen is already on his new contract, Carter’s starts next year.
Market value for big Market
Allen $70 million
Carter $30 million
IMO, overpaid
Id play for a small market if I were an average player and demand big money.
Wendell Carter is no world beater, but his market value anywhere is not lower than the middle level exception.
I think the Carter deal was really good business. He can play 4/5, can space the floor a little, can move his feet well on defence, is usually a double double machine. Plus aside from Bamba who still has question marks around his game and health they don’t really have anyone else at centre.
The only thing I don’t like with Orlando is the point guard spot, you have Suggs Fultz Anthony and Hampton. I think Suggs should be who you build around, I’d trade Fultz, Anthony I personally really like but find it hard to see a place for him and Hampton has intriguing upside and has been doing well.
They need to sort this area out and get in a SF.
Maybe you do a Fultz and Ross for Wiggins deal
Carter’s problem is he is undersized, and too slow to play the 3.
he’s a 4/5, he’d never play the 3…if you’re talking about defending 3’s on switches – he can do that …a lot more agile on the perimeter than I thought when we acquired him…pretty versatile defender.
he is undersized…plays good smart interior D and is a decent shot blocker/rim protector…but I doubt he’ll ever be a difference maker
He plays true to his comparison coming out the draft, Al Horford.
A 4/5, can defend the perimeter good enough for a big, plays art defence down low and does his part contesting and getting blocks from time to time. However Horford in his prime was a 5 time all star that almost averaged 19-10 for a season while constantly taking Atlanta to the playoffs.
Carter is only 22 and will have time to get better but I mean signing him for 4/50 is pretty decent. I think in the next couple season he will turn into a 13-9 centre and then a 15-10 centre which is very good
The Magic FO envisions Fultz & Suggs playing together.
It’s only preseason, but Suggs looked more like a secondary playmaker to me. His handle is a bit shaky and he was having a lot of trouble getting past any defender + looked totally out of sorts in PnR’s.
Once Fultz is back, they’ll play together a lot.
ORL will also play a lot of two ball handler & three guard lineups.
Franz Wagner and Okeke both will play SF this year.
In an interview this week, John Hammond said he and Jeff Weltman envision Franz Wagner at SF, playing alongside Isaac at PF. I’m assuming he’s talking about a couple years down the road as Wagner doesn’t look ready. His body has a long ways to go and his shot mechanics are just ok, both need work. He does have a Ingles/Hedo feel to his game, nowhere near their tier of course, but he does have the skill framework and size to develop into that if things break the right way.
Fultz needs as many shooters as possible around him. How many real shooters are there on ORL squad? Thats why Carter is asked to stretch the floor for everyone. ORL will go 22-60 at best
Yeah Suggs and Fultz in the backcourt doesn’t scare a fly tho. Both aren’t exactly lights out shooters or crafty ball handlers.
Then in the forwards you have Okeke and Wagner, again not going to give the opposition anything to worry about.
The second unit of Anthony, Hampton, Ross and Bamba look better. Anthonys a baller, Hampton is pretty smart and solid, Ross is a bucket and Bamba can give you problems.
Fultz getting 16.5m is just crazy, he’s a career 11/4.5/3 player shooting 45/27/70. Before signing the deal he was 12/5/3 with similar percentages. It’s time to just end that project, you have point guards in Suggs, Anthony and Hampton now that all look better.
Can’t ever see Suggs been anywhere near as good as Fultz as a matter of fact!
If you do a Fultz, Anthony & RJ, getting rid of Suggs then we are talking my friend!
Suggs is the most sure fire bust of this years draft… unless he does turn it around in a big way!
Carter hasn’t even shown he can consistently be an effective starter. As a Bulls fan, Carter showed more likely to be a long term backup in the league. His shooting hasn’t been good and he is undersized to play the 5. He is not a 4 either as he doesn’t have the quickness or shooting.
I think the Magic will end up regretting this contract immediately. Yikes.