Orlando Magic center Moritz Wagner Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Former first-round pick to remain with Magic

Originally posted on Hoops Rumors | By Luke Adams | Last updated 7/1/23

The Magic are re-signing unrestricted free agent forward Moritz Wagner, agent Jason Glushon tells ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link). Wagner will receive a two-year, $16M contract, Woj adds.

Wagner, 26, has been a rotation regular for the Magic over the last two seasons, averaging 9.7 PPG, 4.1 RPG, and 1.4 APG on .499/.321/.826 shooting in 120 games (17.2 MPG).

Returning to Orlando will give Wagner the opportunity to continue playing alongside his brother Franz Wagner, who was the Magic’s lottery pick in 2021 and has emerged as a building block for the franchise.

Because Moritz has a minimum-salary cap hold and full Bird rights, the Magic will be able to use up all their cap room before going over the cap to complete his deal, tweets Yossi Gozlan of HoopsHype. Orlando could also still choose to operate as an over-the-cap team this season since Joe Ingles‘ reported two-year, $22M deal would fit into the mid-level exception.

It’s unclear whether the second year of Wagner’s contract will be guaranteed. The Magic have made a habit during the last two offseasons of signing free agents to two-year deals with only one guaranteed year, taking that route with Mohamed Bamba, Gary Harris, and (reportedly) Ingles.

This article first appeared on Hoops Rumors and was syndicated with permission.

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