Franz Wagner strikes new deal with the Magic

Franz Wagner already boasts the rank of being one of the NBA’s super stars. The Germany international crowned a formidable 2023-24, which began with the world champion title with the national at the last World Cup, and now with a rookie contract extension which guarantees $224 million for five years starting next summer (2025-26).

And if the Orlando Magic forward can claim a place in next season’s All-NBA Team, his total contract will jump to 30% of his team’s salary cap in the first year of the extension. With that and the subsequent annual increases, the projection would be close to $270 million.

Making plans for Franz

The contract is similar to the one Scottie Barnes signed with the Raptors a few days ago. Barnes was number 4 in the 2021 draft and Wagner, number 8. It shows how much the franchise is banking on Wagner, as they see him emulating Barnes, who has already been an All Star and was Rookie of the Year in 2022.

After an exceptional World Cup, Wagner struggled to regain form in domestic competition - or at least he didn’t develop at the pace expected after the excellent sensations of its first two seasons. Several aspects to his game came under scrutiny - his effectiveness from the field (he dropped from 36% in the previous season to a poor 28%) and, in general, his success rate with jump shots, also from medium distance.

Franz Wagner’s numbers in 2023/24

Nevertheless, he averaged 19.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists and made it clear that he is part of the new breed - the grand plan of the Magic that returned to the playoffs, eventually falling to the Cavaliers. The future of the team lies in the axis of forwards - young people that Wagner and the theoretical franchise player, Paolo Banchero (number 1 in the 2022 draft), have to consolidate.

Of course, from now on the Magic have to trust that Wagner will continue to grow and turn into the star that he can certainly has the potential to be in the NBA. And make the shots. His new contract (he will close the rookie contract with just over seven million next season) will start (in his base of $224 million) at $38.6 million in the 2025-26 season. And in the next four years it will be $41.7 million, $44.8 million, $47.9 million and, finally, $51 million in the 2029-30 season, for which in principle there is no player option (in line, again, with what was signed by Barnes in Canada).

In Orlando they also have in their favor, of course, with the increases in the salary cap, which will almost certainly be 10% annually (the maximum allowed by the new collective agreement) thanks to the gigantic numbers in those who are going to sign the next television agreements. As salaries rise by 8% after the first year, the cap will grow more than the salary of a Wagner who will occupy an increasingly smaller percentage of the team’s salary volume.

Future looing bright in Orlando

The Magic, who won 47 games (47-35) in their best season since 2010-11, continue to position themselves to be an important team in the East. Wagner’s extension will be followed in one year by of Banchero. This summer they are being able to renew the main players in the rotation who were out of contract: Mo Wagner, Franz’s older brother, has signed a new two-year, $22 million contract. Gary Harris has signed for two and $15 million, and Goga Bitadze, for three and 25.

Furthermore, and in a move that could be transcendental if injuries affect the forward, Jonathan Isaac (with the potential to be the best defensive player in the NBA ) has signed an extension, after renegotiating his contract, of five years and $84 million. The Magic, in addition, have used their voluminous salary space to take Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (three years and $66 million). A player with experience and champion pedigree, starting guard in two of the last five NBA winners (Lakers in 2020, Nuggets in 2023).

The Magic have also drafted Tristan da Silva, a forward born in Munich and who played in Colorado, with pick 18. A forward that can help in attack if he finds a space in a rotation in which players chosen very high in recent years can also make their way: Anthony Black, Jett Howard and even a second rounder like Caleb Houstan.

The Florida franchise was the second best in defense of the last regular season. There they are going to improve even more with the newcomer KCP, who will form a formidable defensive outside duo with Jalen Suggs. If Isaac is healthy and has continuity and more minutes, the Magic will be hell for the rivals behind.

They still have to improve in attack (22nd by rating), and that basically happens due to the growth of Banchero and Wagner and because KCP and the young people open the court more from the three-man court.

For the rest, the Magic have everything to think about fighting to be a top-5 team in the East next season. With a quintet made up of Suggs, KCP; Wagner, Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr and a deep bench: Isaac, Cole Anthony, Harris, Da Silva, Mo Wagner, Bitadze, Black, Howard, Houstan...