Nikola Vucevic returning to Magic in free agency as Moe Wagner departs

Jason Beede, Orlando Sentinel on Jul 1, 2026

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ORLANDO, Fla. — A heartwarming reunion is underway in Orlando.

Free agent center Nikola Vucevic has signed a one-year, $3.9 million deal to return to the Magic, ESPN first reported Wednesday morning.

But as Vucevic returns, another fan-favorite big man departs.

Free-agent center Moe Wagner, the older brother of Magic star Franz Wagner, is leaving Orlando to sign a two-year, $19 million deal with the Brooklyn Nets, according to multiple reports.

The Magic officially announced the signing Wednesday afternoon. While most free-agent signings can’t be formally shared by teams until the moratorium period ends at 12:01 p.m. on July 6, there are some exceptions, including veteran minimum contracts (which is what Vucevic signed).

Vucevic previously spent nine years with the organization that traded him to Chicago in 2021 as part of the start of a rebuild. Since then he played five seasons for the Bulls before being traded again this past season to Boston. He’ll once again wear the No. 9 uniform with the Magic, according to the team.

Across 64 games with the Bulls and Celtics last season, the 6-foot-9 center averaged 15.1 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists per night while shooting 36.9% from 3-point range.

An unrestricted free agent, Vucevic “turned down more lucrative offers elsewhere to reunite” with the Magic, according to ESPN.

Moe Wagner’s two-year deal with the Nets contains a mutual option that guarantees the $19 million salary while allowing either side to opt-in for the second year, according to ESPN. It also opens the door for Wagner and Brooklyn to discuss a new contract next summer.

Wagner spent the last six seasons with the Magic while playing alongside his younger brother, who was drafted in 2021. The 6-foot-11 center served as a spark plug off the bench for Orlando and didn’t shy away from wearing his heart on his sleeve.

After playing in 80 games for the first time as a pro during the 2023-24 campaign, Wagner was in the middle of a career-year before suffering a torn left ACL in late-December 2024. He missed 52 games during the 2024-25 season and didn’t return to the court until this past January.

Across 36 games following his return, Wagner averaged 6.9 points and 3.2 rebounds while shooting 31.4% from beyond the arc. By the end of the regular season, he had fallen out of Orlando’s rotation and didn’t play significant minutes in the first round of the playoffs against Detroit until Game 7, which the Magic lost.

The signing of Vucevic meant it was unlikely Wagner would return. And by joining the Nets in free agency, Wagner is set to make almost double his $5 million salary that he received last season.

Vucevic, who turns 36 in late October, developed into a two-time All-Star previously with Orlando. He is still third all time in franchise history in total points (10,423), second in rebounds (6,381), third in blocks (550) and fourth in games played (591).

Vucevic joins a frontcourt that features the same player the Magic acquired from Chicago five years ago: Wendell Carter Jr., who played a career-high 78 games this past season. The center position also includes reserve big man Goga Bitadze.

The Magic originally acquired Carter, Otto Porter Jr. and two first-round picks in exchange for Vucevic and Al-Farouq Aminu ahead of the 2021 trade deadline. The pair of first-round picks later turned into Franz Wagner in 2021 and Jett Howard in 2023 for Orlando.