Reserve Magic center Moritz Wagner has been diagnosed with a torn ACL in his left knee and will miss the rest of his club’s 2024/25 season, sources inform Shams Charania of ESPN.
The Michigan alum departed the club’s eventual comeback victory against the Heat on Saturday after injuring the knee. There was immediate concern among Magic players and head coach Jamahl Mosley that the injury was significant.
Across what will wind up being his only 30 games of the season, Wagner averaged a career-best 12.9 points on .562/.360/.718 shooting splits, along with 4.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 0.8 steals per night.
Losing the 27-year-old frontcourt standout is another early-season blow for the rising Magic. Orlando is 18-12 on the year despite currently being without both of its top two players, All-Star forward Paolo Banchero and forward Franz Wagner, Moritz’s younger brother. Unlike Moritz, however, Franz and Banchero are expected to return this season from their right oblique tears.
This injury now casts some uncertainty on Moritz Wagner’s long-term future with the club. The veteran big man inked a two-year, $22MM contract with the club as a free agent this past summer, but his $11MM salary for 2025/26 is a team option.
Given that it often takes players a full calendar year – or more – to recover from ACL tears, Wagner’s availability for the start of next season is up in the air, so the Magic may be reluctant to bring him back at that $11MM price point — declining the option and re-signing him to a more team-friendly deal could be one option Orlando considers.
Rough year for the Magic, do they go into sell mode now? I don’t think they will go deep in the playoffs with this much of the roster coming back from injuries, they might as well tank and try next year because the core is a great one, as long as they are healthy.
What a dumb thing to say.
What a cool reply, really bought a lot to the table! Totally not useless or anything! I also said their core was a good one?
How are they supposed to win with their 3 best scorers injured and now their depth takes a huge blow, genius? School me.
Maybe because their two best players will likely be back before the playoffs? And few teams are 100% going into the playoffs to begin with?
Surprised you haven’t suggested the Warriors tank too. Tougher conference, worse record, already down Melton!
The 4th seed in the East. 4th most wins in the NBA. Paolo coming back soon and Wagner next month. Yeah, they should totally sell. Come on dude.
He has said much dumber things.
Lol what?
You cant win with no star players or scorers? All of their double digit PPGs are gone now.
nope, you get whatever play in / playoff experience you can into the guys that are fit and you run it back next year
Its not really worth it but sure, if you are that starved for attention, enjoy your early exit. I’d rather focus on winning the title next year, which they can definitely do.
That sucks, he was playing well. Good 2nd unit player
He actually was in full breakout mode as a first unit guy this year. Stinks for him and his bro.
Poetl, Fernando for Wagner and a 1st and Goga.
Cole Anthony for Robert Williams III and a 2025 2nd??
So they can have another injured C?
Can they get a DPE or is it too late in the season for that?