According to NBA insider Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, the Orlando Magic are no longer looking to trade big man Wendell Carter Jr.
Carter Jr. has helped the Magic rack up the eighth-best record in the Eastern Conference.
“Wendell Carter, Orlando’s versatile center on a value contract, is likewise no longer being considered a trade candidate for the Magic, league sources told Yahoo Sports, despite the vast amount of rival intrigue in acquiring Carter ever since Goga Bitadze performed quite well as the team’s starting big man while Carter was sidelined due to injury,” Fischer wrote.
Carter Jr. is averaging 11.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.5 blocks this season while shooting 51.5% from the field, 41.7% from beyond the arc and 76.3% from the free-throw line. The Duke product is making $13.1 million.
The Magic acquired Carter Jr. from the Chicago Bulls in the Nikola Vucevic trade in March 2021. Carter Jr. signed a four-year, $50 million extension with Orlando in October 2021. The center is averaging 14.1 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.7 blocks since getting traded to the Magic.
An Atlanta native, Carter Jr. has career averages of 12.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.8 blocks with the Bulls and Magic.
Orlando is 25-23. The franchise is looking to make the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
Paolo Banchero, the Magic’s best player, was named an All-Star reserve yesterday. The swingman is averaging 23.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.6 blocks this season while shooting 45.3% from the floor, 35.8% from 3 and 69.6% from the foul line.
Banchero has 11 double-doubles and one triple-double in 48 games.
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