Wendell

Carter

The good news for those who have Carter rostered is that he recorded his first double-double since January 4 and seventh of the season. The bad news is that he didn’t provide value beyond points, rebounds and assists, and the Magic center was also responsible for five of Orlando’s 12 turnovers. The lack of defensive production makes Carter difficult to trust in 12-team leagues, even with his status as the starting center in Orlando.

A late addition to the injury report, Carter is good to go for Monday’s game. Despite Franz Wagner returning from an ankle injury, Anthony Black will remain in the Magic starting lineup.

Due to a sore left ankle, Carter was added to the Magic injury report following pregame shootaround. If he’s unable to play against the Bucks, Orlando could go one of two ways. Starting Goga Bitadze would ensure that a true center is in the lineup. However, with Franz Wagner (ankle) available and Milwaukee’s Myles Turner spending more time on the perimeter than in the post, Orlando could also go small with its starting lineup.

WCJ is good to go for Thursday’s game in Berlin, and he could slot back into the starting lineup. His return should mean fewer minutes for Goga Bitadze and Moritz Wagner.

After more than a year on the sidelines recovering from a torn ACL, Wagner made his first appearance of the season on Sunday. Due to the time missed, his minutes were limited, but the reserve forward/center was productive in ten minutes on the floor. Since the Magic were without Wendell Carter Jr., Goga Bitadze (14/13/1/3/2) played 32 minutes as the starting center. Once Carter returns and Wagner’s minutes aren’t restricted, Bitadze’s opportunities will take a hit.

Carter was listed as questionable Sunday morning and subsequently ruled out with a hip injury. Goga Bitadze will fill in for Carter, though Mortiz Wagner will play in his season debut against the Pelicans.

Carter was downgraded to questionable with a hip injury on Sunday morning. If the 26-year-old center is ultimately ruled out, Goga Bitadze would be the primary backup center while Moritz Wagner could also see minutes in what’s supposed to be his season debut.

Wagner tore his ACL 13 months ago, and he’ll finally return to the court against New Orleans. He had been playing well before the injury, and while he’ll be eased back into things, he’ll eventually take some of the backup center minutes, which will cut into Wendell Carter Jr. and Goga Bitadze’s minutes.

Carter Jr. was one of only two Orlando players to finish with 20 or more points on the evening. None of the big man’s scoring production came from the three-point line versus Brooklyn, which marks the second consecutive game that he’s gone without a three-pointer. He also wasn’t involved much as a rebounder or passer, and his two stocks weren’t anything fantasy managers should be excited about. Still, his scoring was important to his team’s success tonight. He’ll have an opportunity to put up another solid effort on Friday against the 76ers.

Bitadze is in danger of missing a fourth straight game. If he does, Jonathan Isaac will fill the backup center minutes, with Wendell Carter Jr. filling out a larger role as the starter without another true center available.