As a team in the process of rebuilding, the Magic are looking forward to the results of the new season, even if the team can't make the playoffs, but the Magic also hopes to be able to use the operation of the offseason to complete the reconstruction. Although the team did not make a lot of reinforcements in the offseason, the Magic completed an early contract extension with youngster Wendell Carter before the start of the new season, and his four-year, $50 million contract is also worth the Magic.
In the 2018 draft, Carter was selected by the Bulls with the 7th pick in the first round. Despite having talented players such as Ayton, Doncic and Trae Young in that year's draft, Carter was still seen as an important part of the Bulls' rebuilding. Even though he played well in the Bulls, Carter didn't get many performance opportunities due to the presence of LaVine and Markkanen, and as his role in the team's tactics was curtailed, Carter's form declined.
Before last season's trade deadline, the Bulls made a blockbuster trade, trading Vucevic to the team, and Carter was also sent to the Magic as the bulls' main trading chip. After coming to magic, Carter did not abandon himself because he was "abandoned" by the bull, but he played a good performance in magic. In the 22 games he played for the Magic last season, Carter averaged 11.7 points and 8.8 rebounds per game, compared to the lack of attention in the Bulls era, Carter has gained some tactical status in the Magic.
Although Carter is an interior player, as a member of the small-ball era, Carter still has a lot of remarkable places on the offensive end. He can both hold the ball on the inside and shoot three-point shots on the outside, and for the Magic, they also need big men like Carter to open up offensive space for the team's tactics. Although Carter only hit seven three-pointers after coming to the Magic, this shooting rate is already good under the premise that the number of shots is not much, and with the arrival of the new season, Carter's advantage in this regard will be strengthened.
Defense is probably the key to Carter's most valued focus. In last season's games for the Magic, Carter was in the center position 80 percent of the time, and he also had a good defensive performance in this position. In the 22 games he played for the Magic, Carter averaged 0.7 per game of defensive victory contributions, and when he was on the floor, the Magic's defensive efficiency was 112.8. While the Magic's overall defense wasn't good, he managed to keep the inside line for Magic Town during Carter's time.
With the new season, the Magic clearly want to do more, and after Vucevic's departure, the Magic clearly need to find a suitable leader again. Fultz will return in the new season, but under the premise of long-term injury, Fultz's performance is difficult to withstand the test, and Carter is no less than Fultz in terms of health and physical talent, as long as he is given enough opportunities to perform, then Carter will definitely become the next Vucevic player.
At $50 million for 4 years, this contract is not a high contract in today's league, and magic can retain Carter with such a contract, which is equivalent to leaving a guarantee for the future. Judging by Carter's ability, his contract will definitely be more than that in the future, and the Magic will take advantage of the current opportunity to retain Carter, and also give the team a chance to better complete the reconstruction in the next 4 years.