Magic 'More Settled' When Wendell Carter Jr. Plays

The Orlando Magic rosters one of the most underrated big men in the NBA in Wendell Carter Jr.
Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
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ORLANDO - There are a lot of players around the league that don't get the praise they deserve, including Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr.

As the first main piece returning to Orlando in the Nikola Vucevic trade two years ago, Carter has been a strong foundation for the Magic during the team's rebuild.

His efforts, specifically on the defensive end, have placed him at No. 96 in The Ringer's updated Top 125 rankings.

"The Magic seem more settled any time Carter is on the floor, especially on defense," The Ringer writes. "He’s a stout interior defender who moves fluidly in tight spaces, with long arms and a solid frame that make him an enforcing rim protector in drop coverages or in help. Those same qualities make him a strong post defender too, and in recent years he’s played some of the best defense of anyone against the likes of Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid."

Not only is Carter a force on defense, but he has been respectable on the offensive end. This season, he averaged a career-high 15.2 points per game, but still has room to grow on the offensive end.

"On offense, Carter’s primary responsibility is to set screens and facilitate handoffs," The Ringer writes. He’s a talented passer who makes quick reads and throws accurate passes, but he’s never been surrounded by shooters in his career. He’d be more effective himself if he were a better-than-average shooter, but his shot has never really come along. Nonetheless, he’s a strong screener and a skilled interior scorer who has the soft hands and court awareness to catch tough passes and then finish in a blink."

With Paolo Banchero playing next to him in the Magic frontcourt, Carter doesn't need to be some offensive wizard, but if he can continue making strides with his outside shot and strengthen on the defensive end even more, he could be higher on this list when the next update comes out.


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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.