Report: Lakers Interested In Trading For Magic’s Wendell Carter Jr.

According to NBA insider Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports, the Los Angeles Lakers are interested in trading for Orlando Magic big man Wendell Carter Jr.

Carter Jr. will make $11.9 million next season. 

“One guy of interest, though, who could help the Lakers check a few boxes remains a possible trade target: Magic center Wendell Carter Jr.,” Deveney wrote. “And one executive said he’s still the kind of player the Lakers should be looking for: ‘Fairly young, probably a little undervalued because of his red flags (injuries) and still tapping into his skillset,’ the exec told Heavy Sports. ‘The contract is right, it makes sense for them. That’s a guy they’re monitoring, but a lot of teams are.’

“It does make sense, but with some caveats. First, the Magic would need to accept what the Lakers might be willing to give up for Carter Jr. They’d likely want a first-round pick, but the Lakers might not want to pay that price, at least not yet. The Lakers could send D’Angelo Russell for Carter, but the magic would want some youth. That means either a pick or last year’s first-rounder, Jalen Hood-Schifino.”

Carter Jr. appeared in 55 games for the Magic this past season. He averaged 11.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.5 blocks while shooting 52.5% from the field, 37.4% from beyond the arc and 69.4% from the free-throw line. 

The Lakers lost to the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2024 playoffs in five games, while the Magic fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round in seven games. 

“Wendell Carter Jr., I think he’s someone they’d (Lakers) go after,” an NBA executive told Deveney. “He could be a beast as a backup on that team.”

A Duke product, Carter Jr. has career averages of 12.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.8 blocks with the Chicago Bulls and Magic. He was the seventh overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.