ORLANDO, FLA- As reported by Senior Lead NBA Insider Shams Charania, the Orlando Magic (26-36, 13th in East) have officially signed veteran point guard Michael Carter-Williams to a two-year contract, with the second year serving as a team option. Per team policy, the salary of the deal is only disclosed between Orlando and Carter-Williams, which marks the most recent transaction the Magic have made since the 2023 NBA trade deadline.
For reference, Orlando traded center Mo Bamba to Los Angeles in exchange for guard Patrick Beverley, a 2024 second-round pick (Via DEN), and cash considerations on February 9th. Just days later, the Magic waived Beverley and veteran guard Terrence Ross, who each became midseason unrestricted free agents. In doing so, Orlando created two open roster spaces, one of which was used to sign Carter-Williams. The Magic used the other roster spot to sign former Indiana Pacers center Goga Bitadze to a two-year deal on February 14th.
Since being drafted by Philadelphia with the No. 11 pick in the 2013 NBA draft, Carter-Williams has had quite a fascinating NBA career. In his first season as a 76er, Carter-Williams averaged 16.7 PPG, 6.2 RPG, and 6.3 APG, and 1.9 SPG while shooting 40.5% from the field, 26.4% from three-point range, and 70.3% from the free-throw line in 70 starts. As a result, Carter-Williams won the 2013-2014 Rookie of the Year Award and was named to the NBA’s 2013-2014 All-Rookie First Team.
Following his electric rookie season, however, Carter-Williams failed to continue his excellent play, in large part to being part of numerous transactions. On February 19, 2015, Carter-Williams was involved in a three-team trade that sent him to Milwaukee, only to be traded to Chicago for Tony Snell one year later. After multiple stints with Charlotte’s G-League affiliate, Carter-Williams signed with Houston, and was quickly traded to Chicago for the second time. Unfortunately, Carter-Willams was immediately waived on the same day of the trade.
Two months after his release from the Bulls, Carter-Williams signed his first ten-day contract with the Magic on March 15th, 2019. Ten days later, Carter-Williams earned his second ten-day contract, which Orlando later turned into a contract for the remainder of the season on April 4th. On November 24th, 2020, Carter-Williams signed a multi-year contract with the Magic, and made 25 starts in 31 games in Orlando during the 2020-2021 season.
During the 2021 offseason, Carter-Williams was sidelined indefinitely after undergoing surgery to repair a ligament and remove a bone fragment in his left ankle. In order to facilitate a trade with Boston at the 2022 trade deadline, Orlando had to waive Carter-Williams to create an open roster spot, and remained an unrestricted free agent for the next year. With the aforementioned departures of Bamba, Beverley, and Ross, however, the Magic were more than capable of bringing Carter-Williams back to Orlando.
While Carter-Williams was on Orlando’s roster from 2018-2021, the eight-year veteran was a solid contributor. In 88 games (25 starts), Carter-Williams averaged a respectable 21.1 MPG, 7.5 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 3.3 APG, and 1.0 SPG while shooting 40.0% from the field, 25.8% from three-point range, and 73.3% from the free-throw line. As throughout his career, Carter-Williams was an excellent defender for the Magic, recording a defensive box plus/minuses of 2.9, 1.6, and -0.2, all among the best marks of any player on the Magic.
At 31 years old, it remains unclear of how much of a role Carter-Williams will play on the Magic over the next two seasons. Over the past two seasons, Orlando has favored the backcourt trio of Markelle Fultz, Cole Anthony, and Jalen Suggs, which did prompt the waiving of Ross and RJ Hampton. With this said, Fultz (24), Anthony (22), and Suggs (21) are all under 25 years old, so Carter-Williams will provide a veteran presence to a young and developing backcourt.
Free agent Michael Carter-Williams is signing a two-year deal with the Orlando Magic, second year team option, source tells @TheAthletic @Stadium. Carter-Williams spent 2019-2022 with Orlando.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 26, 2023