After years of trying to rebuild their franchise after trading superstar center Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Orlando Magic seem to finally be turning the corner with a promising young star leading the way in Paolo Banchero.
The Magic finished with an ugly record of 34-48 during the 2022-23 NBA season and seemed like a team that was still a few pieces away from being a force to be reckoned with in the Eastern Conference.
Fortunately for Orlando, that rebuilding process sped up considerably this past season with the team coming into its own. The Magic defied the odds to win the Southeast Division and secure the fifth seed in the East for the 2024 NBA Playoffs.
It was a drastic turn of events for the Magic and a promising sign for the future, as the team excelled on defense and saw a player emerge into a legitimate star, with Banchero proving to be the real deal, especially in the postseason.
Despite being knocked out of the playoffs by the Cleveland Cavaliers in seven games in the first round, Orlando showed tremendous promise. Now, the Magic have locked up one of their other stars for the long term, agreeing to a five-year, $224 million deal with forward Franz Wagner, via NBA on ESPN.
Breaking: Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner has agreed on a five-year, $224 million maximum rookie contract extension, sources tell @wojespn.
A deal that could become worth as much as $269 million. pic.twitter.com/G34gIGXG44
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) July 5, 2024
Here are some fan reactions to the Magic signing Wagner to the massive contract extension:
HES NOT WORTH HALF OF THAT CONTRACT
— desire (@dgsire) July 5, 2024
Horrible move by the magic
— AlwayzHoodie (@AlwayzHoodie) July 5, 2024
Do you think Bronny can beat him 1 on 1?
— Dunkie (@DaddyDunk82) July 5, 2024
Well deserved, such a good player
— Hoops HQ (@hoopshq_) July 5, 2024
Although the Magic proved to be a team on the rise with a potentially bright future, Wagner saw his 3-point percentage drop like a rock during the 2023-24 campaign compared to the previous season, falling from 36.1 percent to 28.1 percent, even though his points per game jumped from 18.6 to 19.7.
Despite some fan backlash for giving Wagner this deal, he’s clearly a big part of the Magic’s future, and it will be interesting to see what he can do to make Orlando a contender in the East while playing alongside Banchero.
The post Fans React To Today’s Franz Wagner News appeared first on The Cold Wire.