Magic to decline team options on pair of players

The Magic are declining the team options for Moritz Wagner and Caleb Houstan, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania (via Twitter), making the two players unrestricted free agents.

Wagner’s team option was for $11MM while Houstan’s was for $2.1MM. This move allows the Magic to retain some financial flexibility after they traded for Desmond Bane. Charania notes that the team retains both players’ bird rights, meaning that a reunion between either or both of them is still possible.

Wagner has been with the Magic for over five seasons, and has averaged 10.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists while shooting 32.9% from three over the last four years as a second, or at times third-string, center. His 2024/25 season was cut short by a torn ACL in January, which he is still recovering from.

Houston, the former 32nd pick in the 2022 draft, has been in and out of the rotation over his three seasons in Orlando, but has become a strong shooter at 6’8″ and is still only 22 years old.