Magic extend C Wendell Carter Jr.’s contract

Center Wendell Carter Jr. is committed to the Orlando Magic into the future after signing a contract extension on Monday.

The team confirmed the signing on social media but did not announce the terms. According to ESPN, Carter received a three-year, $59 million extension, with the last year a team option.

The new pact would kick in after the remaining two years (for a total of $28 million) on Carter’s existing contract.

Carter, 25, has split his NBA career between the Bulls (2018-19 to 2020-21) and the Magic (2020-21 to 2023-24). Chicago made him the No. 7 overall pick in the 2018 draft out of Duke, then traded him to Orlando in March 2021 along with Otto Porter and two first-round picks in exchange for Nikola Vucevic and Al-Farouq Aminu.

Last season, Carter averaged 11 points and 6.9 rebounds in 55 games (48 starts). In 315 career NBA games (294 starts), he averages 12.5 points and 8.5 rebounds. He enjoyed his best season in 2021-22, when he logged 15 points and 10.5 boards per game.

Orlando tied for fifth in the Eastern Conference last season with a 47-35 record, then lost in a first-round playoff series to the Cleveland Cavaliers in seven games.