Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. will have an operation to stabilize the third metacarpal on his left hand, the team announced in a press release (via Twitter).
The preventive procedure involves inserting a plate at the site of a fracture on Carter’s hand. He suffered the fracture in early November and had it surgically repaired at the time.
Carter will be reevaluated in approximately four weeks, the team added. That should give him plenty of time for offseason workouts before training camps open in late September.
Although he missed more than a month with the original injury, Carter still appeared in 55 games, making 48 starts and averaging 11.0 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 25.6 minutes per night.
During exit interviews after the Magic were eliminated from the playoffs, Carter talked about the difficulty of trying to return after surgery, per Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel.
“It affected me in a lot of ways,” Carter said. “Mentally, being out of the rotation for a while, just watching from the sidelines while they’re doing such a fantastic job and then the pressure of coming back and picking up where Goga (Bitadze) and (Moritz Wagner) left off. It was tough. Then it got to a point where I was doubting myself a little bit — just being honest.”
Carter, 25, has two years remaining on his contract. He will earn $11.95MM next season and $10.85MM in 2025/26 before becoming an unrestricted free agent that summer.
Not a starting caliber center, probably needs a psychologist to help him with his confidence.
nOt A sTaRtInG cAlIbEr CeNtEr
In a league where Nikola Vucevic makes 20 million dollars
I think you’re projecting big boi
Looks to me like Wendell Carter Jr is just coming into his own. Never saw him play before the Cleveland series but he made me into a believer. Big, strong and he can make a three under pressure. I expect big things for him next year.
Hope is getting well soon and a 100% healthy because sooner than later he will be in the trade market. If Orlando re-sign Jonathan Isaac and go big in the draft I think WCJ have a big chance to be traded by Orlando. Everything will depend about who Orlando sign in the free agency.