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Magic Get Great News in NBA Free Agency on July 4th originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Just when NBA fans thought the Orlando Magic might take it easy on the holiday, the franchise dropped some important news. Turns out, the Magic’s offseason keeps getting better by the day.
Orlando already added some much needed shooting by striking a blockbuster trade for Desmond Bane. The Magic followed up this move by selecting Jase Richardson in the NBA draft to add additional shooting prowess.
Now, the Magic are taking care of one of their own on July 4th.
On Friday, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Orlando locked up Moritz Wagner to a new one-year, $5 million deal. The big man stays in Orlando alongside his younger brother, Franz Wagner, while providing depth at center.
Before an ACL tear cut his season short in December, Wagner was in top form. Wagner averaged a career-best 12.9 points per game and shot 36% from three-point range in just 20 minutes per game. Wagner was shaping up as a real Sixth Man of the Year contender before the injury.
The Magic have made smart moves this offseason. Pairing Bane with Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero now gives Orlando a young, exciting big three.
But the Magic are likely not done yet. ESPN’s Bobby Marks revealed the next big step for the Magic is clear: extend Paolo Banchero.
The star is eligible for a five-year, $239 million rookie max extension. No one expects Orlando to hesitate.
Banchero, the 2022 No. 1 overall pick, averaged 25.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game last season. Orlando is hoping the added shooting can help strengthen Banchero’s impact even more.
The Magic are building something special. Friday’s move keeps this momentum rolling.
Related: Magic Roster and Projected Starting Lineup After Making Major Moves
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
