Wendell Carter Jr. has extended his deal with the Magic for three years and $58.7 million, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The Magic announced the agreement in a press statement.
Carter is entering the third year of a four-year, $50 million contract that was frontloaded. The new deal will keep him under contract until the 2028-29 season.
According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, Carter will earn $18.1 million in 2026-27, $19.6 million in 2027-28, and $21 million in 2028-29 (Twitter link). It is the most money Carter could have received for a three-year agreement; Carter’s 2025-26 pay is less than the expected average player wage, thus he was eligible for up to 140 percent of the average, according to Keith Smith of Spotrac (Twitter link). Given the increasing pay cap, Carter’s compensation is appropriate for a starting center.
The Magic now have two of their top big players on long-term contracts. Franz Wagner signed a maximum five-year deal in July. Carter will be ineligible to be traded this season if he signs the agreement now, Smith explained in another tweet.
Carter is only 25 years old and in his eighth season in the NBA. Through 315 regular-season games, he has averaged 12.5 and 8.5 points per 27.6 minutes. Carter has had a number of ailments over his career, and he has never appeared in more than 62 games.
Last season, Carter appeared in 55 games (48 starts) and averaged 11.0 points and 6.9 rebounds in 25.6 minutes. He made his playoff debut last season, averaging 7.6 points and 6.3 rebounds in 26.4 minutes across seven games.
Carter had surgery on his left hand following the season. Carter’s hand was fractured, and the preventive operation comprised putting a plate at the spot. He sustained the fracture in early November and had it medically repaired at the time. He also missed a few games last season due to tendinitis in his right knee.