Orlando Magic Daily
Fansided

4 big roster decisions facing the Orlando Magic

By Dan Bennett

Orlando Magic center Mohamed Bamba has struggled to get minutes and consistency in is young career. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images)
Orlando Magic center Mohamed Bamba has struggled to get minutes and consistency in is young career. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 20: Wendell Carter Jr. #34 of the Orlando Magic dunks against John Collins #20 and Bogdan Bogdanovic #13 of the Atlanta Hawks in the first half at State Farm Arena on April 20, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 20: Wendell Carter Jr. #34 of the Orlando Magic dunks against John Collins #20 and Bogdan Bogdanovic #13 of the Atlanta Hawks in the first half at State Farm Arena on April 20, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

4 big roster decisions for the Orlando Magic

Do the two young centers deserve a big contract extension?

For both Wendell Carter and Mohamed Bamba, next season is a big one.

Both are set to hit restricted free agency next offseason, and the Magic will have to decide whether it wants to sign one, or both, to long-term extensions.

This is a huge decision. Both still have a lot to left to prove and have not had the easiest starts to their NBA careers, having battled their respective injury problems.

Handing the pair of sizable extensions would not make a ton of sense. Both are battling for the same spot on the team and it is difficult to envisage a scenario where both play on the court regularly at the same time.

Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic /

Orlando Magic

According to a report from Matt Moore of The Action Network, executives believe Magic front office has will decide to tie up Carter to a longer deal believed to be worth around $70 million in total. It’s a bold move for a player who has battled injury and is yet to really show enough on offense, but would ensure the Magic are locked in at the center spot for the foreseeable future.

Where that would leave Bamba is unclear.

Carter is certainly ahead of Bamba at this current moment and is much more dependable on the defensive end, despite Bamba showing flashes of having more to his game on offense than his team-mate.

Using cap space to sign two players with considerable uncertainty around them on decent contracts seems unwise, especially since the front office has already signed two injury-prone players to longer contracts in Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac.

If the reports are true that Carter is to be extended, then the Magic must set a limit on what they are willing to spend on Bamba, if they decide to keep him at all. But despite his difficult start, there will still be plenty of interested teams because of the potential he has.

Ultimately, both must show the team why they deserve contracts. Bamba has to prove he can be more reliable and conistent, particularly on the defensive end, while Carter has to show he can be a bigger contributor on offense.

The decision on who the center for the future will be is a big one, and is certainly fast approaching.