Orlando Magic and center Wendell Carter Jr. agree to a three-year extension worth $59 million

Wendell Carter Jr. has developed into a premier center who fits the Orlando Magic’s mold – a plus defender who can score around the rim and stretch the floor from 3 – so the Magic locked him up.

Carter and the Magic agreed to a three-year, $59 million contract extension Story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN and made official by the Magic soon after.

Carter has two years and $22.8 million remaining on his current four-year contract, now that $59 will be increased, meaning he is under contract for the next five years. Because of the six-month rule, Carter can’t be traded at the deadline this year, and the Magic weren’t planning on doing that anyway.

Orlando has now locked down its frontcourt, and Franz Wager and Jonathan Isaac have agreed to contract extensions over the summer. Paolo Banchero is the only part of the frontcourt core that hasn’t signed a contract extension yet, but his maximum contract is undoubtedly imminent.

The Magic are hoping Carter can stay healthy. He played in 55 games a season ago and never appeared in more than 62 games. After last season, Carter underwent surgery on his left hand, which the team described as preventive because a steel plate was inserted to support a previous fracture.

Carter averaged 11 points and 6.9 rebounds last regular season, playing 25.6 minutes per night. His minutes increased slightly in the playoffs (his first playoff appearance) and he averaged 7.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.

Orlando expects to play many more playoff games in the coming seasons.