Wagner (knee) and the Magic agreed to a one-year, $5 million deal Friday, ESPN's Shams Charania reports.
Wagner is still on the mend after tearing the ACL in his left knee in December. It's not a surprise to see the Magic bring him back, however, as he was having a career-best season prior to the injury -- he posted averages of 12.9 points on 56.2 percent shooting with 4.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 0.8 steals over 18.8 minutes across 30 regular-season games. When he gets the green light to return, Wagner figures to carve out a decent role with the second unit.
The Magic intend to decline Wagner's (knee) team option, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.
The move was expected, as Wagner is set to miss a good chunk of the 2025-26 season after tearing the ACL in his left knee in December. The Magic will retain his Bird Rights, so a new contract could be signed between the two sides, though the annual value could be lower than the $11 million Wagner was set to receive had Orlando exercised the option instead. Prior to his injury, Wagner was averaging 12.9 points on 56.2 percent shooting, 4.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 0.8 steals over 18.8 minutes per game across 30 regular-season games (one start).
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Magic's Moritz Wagner: Undergoes successful surgery
Rotowire
The Magic announced that Wagner underwent successful surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee Wednesday and will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season.
Wagner had already been ruled out for the rest of the 2024-25 campaign after making 30 appearances before suffering the torn ACL in a Dec. 21 win over Miami. With surgery now completed, the 27-year-old big man will now embark on a long rehab process that could extend into next season. The Magic hold a $11 million team option for Wagner for the 2025-26, and the uncertainty of how he'll bounce back from the knee injury makes it likely that the team declines the option this summer.
Magic's Moritz Wagner: Out for season with torn ACL
Rotowire
Wagner was diagnosed Sunday with a season-ending torn ACL in his left knee following an MRI, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.
Wagner went down with a non-contact knee injury after playing only two minutes in Saturday's win over Miami. With his MRI revealing ligament damage to his knee, the big man will soon head in for surgery and spend the rest of the season recovering. After re-signing with Orlando over the summer on a one-year, $11 million deal that includes an $11 million team option for 2025-26, the 27-year-old appeared in 30 games and averaged a career-high 12.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.4 blocks across 18.8 minutes per game. Wagner's absence for the rest of the season could result in Jonathan Isaac logging more time at center when Goga Bitadze and Wendell Carter are off the court.
Wagner (knee) has been ruled out for the remainder of Saturday's game against Miami, Cody Taylor of USA Today reports. He didn't record any counting stats over two minutes prior to exiting.
Wagner sustained a non-contact left knee injury and will undergo further testing to determine the specifics and severity of the injury. Jonathan Isaac and Caleb Houstan are the likeliest candidates for increased roles sans Wagner. Wagner's next chance to play will come Monday against Boston.
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Magic's Moritz Wagner: Suffers non-contact injury
Rotowire
Wagner was helped off the floor during Saturday's game against the Heat after sustaining a non-contact knee injury, Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel reports.
Wagner wasn't able to put much, if any, weight on his left leg while being helped back to the locker room. Considering the non-contact nature of the injury, Wagner should be considered doubtful to return. Jonathan Isaac and Caleb Houstan could see more action while Wagner is sidelined while Wendell Carter could see more minutes at center.
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Magic's Moritz Wagner: Notches career-high 32 points
Rotowire
Wagner supplied 32 points (10-15 FG, 4-7 3Pt, 8-11 FT), six rebounds, one assist and two steals in 26 minutes during Sunday's 100-91 loss to the Knicks.
Wagner caught fire in Sunday's loss, posting a new career-high mark of 32 points. He also tied his career-best mark of four three-pointers, something he's now done five different times. Wagner is heating up and could continue to provide consistent streaming value while Paolo Banchero (oblique) and Franz Wagner (oblique) rehab their injuries.
Wagner registered 13 points (6-6 FG, 1-1 3Pt), three rebounds, one assist and one steal across 19 minutes during Tuesday's 114-109 loss to the Bucks.
Wagner has reached double figures in six straight games, but his workloads remain fairly low. In that span, he's averaging 20.0 minutes per contest with 12.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.0 blocks and 0.8 three-pointers. He's been a viable streamer to open December.
Magic's Moritz Wagner: Best game of season Tuesday
Rotowire
Wagner supplied 20 points (7-13 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 5-9 FT), 12 rebounds, one assist, one block and two steals in 28 minutes during Tuesday's 121-106 loss to the Knicks.
With Goga Bitadze (ankle) a late scratch, Wagner had his best performance of the season Tuesday by a wide margin, notching his first double-double of the campaign while also setting new season-high marks in points and rebounds. Despite coming off the bench, Wagner has been a consistent performer in the Magic's frontcourt. He's scored in double digits in all but one of his last eight contests, a span in which he's averaging 14.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per contest.
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Magic's Moritz Wagner: Nears double-double off bench
Rotowire
Wagner supplied 12 points (5-9 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 2-2 FT), eight rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal over 16 minutes during Sunday's 100-92 victory over Brooklyn.
Wagner provided a nice lift off Orlando's bench in Sunday's win, leading all second-unit players in scoring and rebounds while also recording a team-high-tying pair of blocks in a near double-double outing. Wagner tied a season high in rebounds, and he's now reached double figures in scoring in six of his last seven contests.
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