RADIO
Wendell Carter Jr. Records Double-Double In Loss To Suns
Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. recorded a double-double in his team's 117-104 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night. Carter Jr. finished with 27 points and 13 rebounds in a nice performance despite his team's defeat. The talented center shot 10-of-12 from the field and made 2-of-2 from 3-point range, adding a 5-of-6 mark from the free throw stripe. It was a great all-around performance from Carter Jr., who added two assists, one steal, and one blocked shot. Carter Jr. is averaging 14.3 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game on 65.6 percent shooting from the field. Carter Jr. is a good source of points, rebounds, and field-goal percentage and more efforts like the one on Thursday night will help make him one of the best fantasy center assets in the league.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
Goga Bitadze Scores 23 Points as Georgia Routs Montenegro
Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze put up 23 points, eight rebounds, one steal, and two blocks in Georgia's 101-74 win over Montenegro on Friday in Group I of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers. The 27-year-old finished second on the team behind Tornike Shengelia, who led all scorers with 24 points, while Sandro Mamukelashvili chipped in 17 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. Summer form is not Bitadze's issue. Playing time is. He averaged 5.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 15.2 minutes last season and was out of the rotation by Game 7 against Detroit. Orlando then added Nikola Vucevic after Moritz Wagner's departure, leaving Bitadze behind Wendell Carter Jr. and Vucevic in a crowded center mix. He stays off fantasy radars unless an injury opens minutes.
Source: Keith Smith
Source: Keith Smith
Nikola Vucevic Downplays Celtics Rift
Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic pointed to Boston's expensive roster structure, not locker-room tension, when discussing the Celtics' offseason shake-up. Speaking to SKWEEK, Vucevic said the contracts for Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, combined with the NBA's new financial rules, made it difficult for Boston to keep enough depth around its stars. He also said he sensed no issues between Tatum and Brown before Boston traded Brown to Philadelphia for Paul George and multiple picks. The fantasy fallout is more about Boston than Vucevic, who returns to a crowded Orlando frontcourt. George should see cleaner usage next to Tatum, while Vucevic will need steady minutes before becoming more than a fringe fantasy name.
Source: Sportando
Source: Sportando
Magic Kept Nikola Vucevic From Zvezda Move
Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic had a gentleman's agreement to join Crvena Zvezda if he did not receive an NBA offer, club president Zeljko Drcelic told Meridian Sport, per Eurohoops. That path never opened, as Vucevic signed a one-year, $3.9 million deal to return to Orlando on July 1. The 35-year-old two-time All-Star split last season between Chicago and Boston, averaging 15.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists across 64 games. For fantasy, the EuroLeague angle changes nothing unless it resurfaces after this NBA stint. Vucevic is back as veteran frontcourt depth for the Magic, which leaves him more useful as a low-ceiling big than a priority target.
Source: Eurohoops
Source: Eurohoops
Nikola Vucevic Isn't Planning to Retire After Next Season
Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic does not plan to make 2026-27 his final NBA season, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, citing the Magic's win-now direction under new coach Sean Sweeney, his history with the franchise, and family reasons for returning on a one-year deal. The 35-year-old, who turns 36 in October, retired from international play but still expects to keep going in the NBA. He averaged 15.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists while shooting 36.9 percent from three last season. In Orlando, though, he projects as the backup behind entrenched starter Wendell Carter Jr. and will likely split those reserve minutes with Goga Bitadze. That caps his fantasy ceiling: his scoring gives him streaming value in deeper formats, but the timeshare keeps him off standard-league radars unless Carter misses time, at which point he becomes genuinely useful.
Source: Michael Scotto
Source: Michael Scotto
Moritz Wagner Moving From Orlando to Brooklyn
Free-agent center Moritz Wagner is signing a two-year, $19 million contract with the Brooklyn Nets, according to Shams Charania. The ESPN insider also noted the contract contains a mutual opt-in option following the first season. The 29-year-old had a statistical down season in his final year with the Orlando Magic. An ACL tear in December of 2024 kept the Germany native from suiting up until mid-January this year. Ultimately, he averaged 6.9 points and 3.2 rebounds on 42.6% shooting in 11.9 minutes per game. Wagner could be in line for more consistent playing time in the upcoming season, with Day'Ron Sharpe as the only other true center currently on Brooklyn's roster.
Source: Shams Charania - ESPN
Source: Shams Charania - ESPN
Nikola Vucevic Returns Home to Orlando
Center Nikola Vucevic is signing a one-year, $3.9 million contract for a second stint with the Orlando Magic, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The 35-year-old spent nearly nine seasons with the Magic toward the beginning of his career, blossoming into an All-Star. His production has nearly bottomed out since then, though. A midseason acquisition by the Celtics, Vucevic averaged 9.7 points and 6.6 rebounds in 21.1 minutes. Those were all his lowest per-game numbers since his rookie season. Vucevic replaces the outgoing Moritz Wagner on the Magic depth chart, but will be competing with Goga Bitadze for backup center minutes behind Wendell Carter Jr.
Source: Shams Charania - ESPN
Source: Shams Charania - ESPN
Magic Acquire Izaiyah Nelson in a Multi-Team Draft-Night Trade
The Orlando Magic are reportedly acquiring South Florida center Izaiyah Nelson after the Washington Wizards selected him with the No. 51 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Nelson averaged 15.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.4 blocks in 27.2 minutes while shooting 56.1 percent from the field as a senior. The 22-year-old swept American Conference Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and Newcomer of the Year honors, giving Orlando a high-motor frontcourt prospect. With Wendell Carter Jr. and Goga Bitadze already on the roster, Nelson's fantasy path starts with rebounding, stocks, and earning energy minutes off the bench.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
