Moe Wagner and Magic ink a one-year deal worth $5 million contract.
Moe Wagner, the energetic forward who was a key contributor to the Orlando Magic's lineup before suffering a season-ending ACL injury last December, is set to return to the team for the 2025-26 season. Wagner has agreed to a one-year, $5 million deal, providing the Magic with roster flexibility and a low-risk, high-reward move that bets on his full recovery and potential to reestablish himself among the league's better role players.
Wagner's injury recovery has been a meticulous process, with the 2.5-hour strength sessions and daily focus on relearning to walk. However, he has been cleared by team doctors for full participation in training camp and is on schedule for a return during the 2025-26 season, depending on his progress.
Before his injury, Wagner was having a career-best season, averaging 12.9 points and 4.9 rebounds in just 18.8 minutes per game. He shot an impressive 56.2% from the field and a career-best 36% from three-point range. Wagner's scoring efficiency and energy off the bench had earned him a place in the Sixth Man of the Year race, leading all players averaging under 20 minutes in scoring.
The Magic are optimistic about Wagner's return, as his comeback is anticipated to have a significant impact by bolstering the team's bench scoring and frontcourt versatility. His chemistry with his younger brother Franz Wagner, a rising star on the team, also adds a valuable intangible element to team dynamics.
The Magic's roster currently stands at 13 players on standard contracts, placing them right below the first apron. Other recovering players like Jalen Suggs are also expected to contribute to the team's strengthened bench depth.
In addition to Wagner's return, the Magic have also signed free agent Tyus Jones and rookie-scale contract holder Jase Richardson. The team is also expected to sign second-round pick Noah Penda in the days ahead. However, the Magic are hard capped at their current figure due to using the non-taxpayer mid-level exception to sign Tyus Jones.
Notably, Franz Wagner has inked a five-year rookie max extension worth $224 million with the Orlando Magic, securing the team's future with a promising young duo.
As the Magic and fans eagerly await Wagner's comeback, they are hopeful it will be one of the most inspiring in recent Orlando history, adding much-needed scoring punch and physicality to the team's rotation.
Wagner's return in the 2025-26 season, as he recovers from his ACL injury, is expected to inject a significant boost to Orlando Magic's bench scoring and frontcourt versatility, given his career-best performance in basketball before the injury in the NBA. It's worth noting that he was among the NBA's candidates for the Sixth Man of the Year, demonstrating his efficiency in scoring and energy off the bench within the sport.
