The NBA offseason is about to heat up once the free agency negotiation window opens at 6 p.m. ET on Monday. Los Angeles Lakers fans are eager to see what general manager Rob Pelinka has up his sleeve this summer, especially with the sudden threat of a potential LeBron James trade on the horizon after opting into his $52.6 million player option.
No matter who stays or leaves Los Angeles in the coming weeks, one offseason goal remains unchanged: the Lakers desperately need frontcourt help. GM Pelinka likely has adding a veteran center or two as his top priority once free agency opens, and will likely contact as many of the available veteran rebounders as possible.
Although there are already plenty of experienced names up for grabs, another veteran center just reached the open market, and he's someone whom the Lakers know well.
Magic Decline Former Lakers C Moritz Wagner's $11 Million Team Option
Sunday marked the deadline for NBA teams and players to exercise their contract options. The Orlando Magic were one of the teams to close the door on one player's return, opting to decline former Lakers center Moritz Wagner's $11 million team option, according to NBA insider Shams Charania.
The option being declined doesn't close mean a return is out of the question, though.
"The Magic retain both player's Bird Rights, meaning Orlando could still re-sign (Wagner and Caleb Houston)," Charania added.
The Orlando Magic are declining team options on Moe Wagner ($11 million) and Caleb Houstan ($2.1 million), sources tell ESPN. The Magic retain both players' Bird Rights, meaning Orlando could still re-sign them.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 29, 2025
Wagner is one of the more popular players among Magic fans at the moment, so the fact that the team declined his option is surprising. The German big man is coming off a 2024-25 campaign that saw him average career highs in points (12.9), rebounds (5.9), and steals (0.8) while shooting 56.2% from the floor and a personal-best 36.0% from deep.
Perhaps Wagner's health is the main reason behind the Magic's decision. The former Michigan Wolverine has only played more than 60 games twice in his seven-year career, and was limited to only 30 appearances last season due to a torn ACL suffered in January.
Lakers fans are more than familiar with Wagner due to his being drafted 25th overall by the franchise in 2018. He played 43 games (5 starts) in what was LeBron's first campaign as a Laker; however, that was the only campaign Wagner played in L.A. He was traded to the Washington Wizards during the following offseason in the three-team trade that sent Anthony Davis to Los Angeles.
The Magic declining Wagner's option opens the door for the Lakers to reunite with their former draft pick. A potential contract offer wouldn't break the bank due to the 28-year-old big man needing to prove himself following his ACL tear. If he doesn't want to accept the $5.7 million taxpayer midlevel exception, the Lakers could always work on a sign-and-trade deal with the Magic.
Either way, Wagner's availability isn't something the Lakers should ignore. He's a veteran presence who can stretch the floor, rebound, and bring positive vibes to the locker room. All of that would make him an improvement over last year's center options, especially if he can return to form.
With the NBA offseason about to kick into overdrive, Lakers fans will want to continue monitoring the potential of a Wagner reunion in L.A..
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