Wendell Carter Jr. showed value for Magic — and what needs to be addressed

For Wendell Carter Jr., the Orlando Magic’s 2022-23 season further showcased the developmental breakout the 24-year-old big man took the previous season.

In 2021-22, Carter set several career highs, including scoring, rebounding, assists and shooting efficiency.

He one-upped himself this past season, setting new career highs in points (15.2), 2-point (62.4%) and 3-point accuracy (35.6%), 3-point attempts (3.9) and effective field goal percentage (59.1%) — a formula that adjusts for 3-pointers being worth more than made 2-pointers.

Carter was a foundation of Orlando’s defense, which allowed 111.4 points per 100 possessions with Carter on the floor — a top-six mark compared to the rest of the league. The Magic allowed 113.9 points per 100 possessions with Carter on the bench — a solid mark that’s closer to average.

Although he wasn’t as prolific as last season, Carter was the Magic’s best rim protector while adjusting to playing as the lone big man more often.

He was also a connector offensively who was more consistent with being aggressive on that end of the floor.

“He does so many little things,” coach Jamahl Mosley said of Carter late in the season. “Like his ability to know when to roll and where to roll in pick-and-rolls. It’s why he and Franz [Wagner] have such a great connection in the pick-and-roll.

“Defensively, that early talk, that early help with the guards, helping them navigate through screens and being in the right position if something breaks down — those are the things that you don’t really pick up on because he’s covering it so fast.”

The next steps for Carter’s development will come in areas outside of a basketball skill set — leadership and on-court availability.

For a young Magic team that’s looking to take the next step and become a playoff team, accountability between teammates will be important.

This is an area Carter, who’ll be one of the older players of the Magic’s core as a sixth-year player, believes he can help with.

“That’s going to be a big step for me,” Carter said. “Learning how to lead, learning how to be more vocal. I’m a guy who I can faithfully say lead pretty [well] by example. But the accountability of being able to talk up when things aren’t right. Being able to just let people know when I feel a certain way about something they’re doing.

“On the back end of that, being able to receive it whenever I’m not doing what I’m supposed to be doing, someone can be able to come up to me and I’ll be able to take it and apply it to the next play, whatever the case may be.”

Carter sees being more available as the biggest step he’ll need to take.

He played in 57 of 82 games this past season, missing time because of strained right plantar fascia — the soft tissue under the foot — and hip pain.

Carter’s played at least 73% of games in a season (a 60-game pace) twice in five seasons — the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.

“It’s a lot of factors,” Carter responded when asked what goes into preparing to be more available for games. “Sometimes injuries are something you can’t control. Some of it’s mental. Making sure I’m in a good mental space. Take care of my body in terms of the way I’m eating. Staying on a really strict diet throughout the offseason.

“And training the small tendons around some of the bigger muscles. I haven’t really had any big muscle or bone injuries since I’ve been in the league. It’s always been the smaller tendons, so strengthening those up and staying on top of that.”

This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Khobi Price at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter at @khobi_price.

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