The Magic aren’t picking up their $8M team option for Moritz Wagner for next season, but both sides have an interest in negotiating a new contract, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (X link).
The decision means the 27-year-old big man will become an unrestricted free agent Sunday afternoon and will be free to talk with anyone. Wagner has spent the past four seasons in Orlando and presumably enjoys playing alongside his brother, Franz, so the team should have an advantage in trying to re-sign him.
The Magic are expected to be major players on the free agent market, and the extra $8M in cap room could turn out to be valuable. Orlando is projected to have more than $52M to work with and is considered to be a suitor for Clippers forward Paul George, who is declining his $48.8M option for next season.
One possibility for Wagner suggested by Yossi Gozlan of HoopsHype (X link) is for Orlando to use its $8M room mid-level exception to give him the same salary as his option. The team would have to exhaust its cap space before that pathway becomes available.
Wagner played an important role off Orlando’s bench this season, averaging 10.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 80 games.
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