Orlando Magic Daily
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Orlando Magic’s centers will anchor the team

By Coby Leibowitz

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - MARCH 09: Wendell Carter Jr. #34 of the Orlando Magic reacts against the New Orleans Pelicans during a game at the Smoothie King Center on March 09, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - MARCH 09: Wendell Carter Jr. #34 of the Orlando Magic reacts against the New Orleans Pelicans during a game at the Smoothie King Center on March 09, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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Mo Bamba, Orlando Magic
Mo Bamba turnedin a season-best performance against the Cleveland Cavaliers as he believes in what the team is building. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports /

Orlando Magic Position Review: Centers

Mo Bamba’s Career Season

Wendell Carter’s game hit whole new levels last season. But he was not the only big man to improve their offensive game.

Mo Bamba also averaged a career high in scoring with 10.6 points per game in his first season averaging double digits.

Bamba is another versatile scorer who shot 56.3 percent from two 38.1 percent from three. Mo Bamba being able to space the floor with the second unit can open up the floor for Markelle Fultz, R.J. Hampton and other bench unit players, and allow him to run with the ones if Carter was out of the game.

Most players shoot their best from the corner three but Bamba actually shoots his best shot from the top of the key and the wings. This is perfect in pick and pop situations and will force defenses to be on their toes.

Bamba shot 45.9 percent from the wings and top of the key. He needs to continue to stay hot and improve his shooting to become even more of an offensive threat and possibly have his highest scoring average yet next season.

Bamba is not a one-dimensional scorer though, he can stretch the floor with his 1.5 threes per game, but he still scores the majority of his points on the inside.

He shot 72.7 percent from within three feet and 62.4 percent from within 10 feet. With his 7-foot height and his 7-foot-10 wingspan, he is a problem inside who is tough to matchup against. His long arms and big body make him seemingly impossible to guard when he gets close to the rim.

Not only does his length and size make him a problem when scoring under the basket but it makes him hard to stop from rebounding the ball.

He averaged 2.1 offensive rebounds per game which was tied for 25th in the league. He gets a lot of put backs and second chance points. His size and length makes him a player who the opposing team has to box out or else they will get killed on the boards all game.

Bamba’s rebounding ability and pursuit for the ball is something you can not teach or coach so for him to have this innate ability is going to be huge for years to come.

Another player who has not been receiving the praise he deserves is Moe Wagner.

Wagner is another center who can space the floor and score on the inside. Having interchangeable centers is perfect because it means they do not have to change the offensive game plan depending on who is in the game, healthy or hurt. The OrlandoMagic have three centers who can do what is asked of them.

Wagner is a big and strong player who has a phenomenal touch and feel around the basket for his size. He can get it done down low and score effectively, shooting 67.2 percent within three fee and 68.2 percent within 10 feet.

Unlike Bamba and Carter, who score a lot in the paint on putbacks, dump offs and post-ups, Wagner is actually an effective driver to the basket. He is quite athletic for his size and he can get to the hoop. He is great at using ball fakes and has some speed to him as he often blows by his defender.

He also can throw down. He had multiple highlight level dunks that were must see tv for the Magic this year.

He is one of the better off-ball centers too. He does a great job of cutting without the ball and running the floor. For a big man he did a terrific job of getting down the floor in transition.

As mentioned before he can stretch the floor just as well as he can run it. In his two seasons with the Magic, he has shot 33.6 percent from three. Those numbers will increase as he gets older and has more time to work on his shot. He, much like Carter, loves the corners, last year he sot 37.5% from the corners which were his spots all of last season.