Orlando Magic sign center Wendell Carter Jr. to $59 million contract extension

Oct. 8 (UPI) — The Orlando Magic have signed center Wendell Carter Jr. to a contract extension, president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman announced.

Weltman announced the pact Monday evening. Carter's agent confirmed the deal is for three years and worth $59 million. Carter is now under contract until the 2028/29 season.

The 1.90 meter tall center entered the league as the No. 7 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. Carter, who spent one season at Duke, began his career with the Chicago Bulls and moved to the Magic in 2021.

The six-year veteran averaged 11 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game in 55 appearances, including 48 starts, last season. In his first 315 NBA appearances, he averaged 12.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.

Carter averaged a career-high 15.2 points per game during the 2022-23 season. In the 2021–22 season, he scored 15 points and a career-best 10.2 rebounds per game.

Carter totaled four points and six rebounds in 20 minutes in the Magic's 106-104 preseason loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday in New Orleans.

The Magic will face the San Antonio Spurs in another preseason game on Wednesday at 8 p.m. EDT in San Antonio. They will open the regular season on October 23rd in Miami against the Miami Heat.