Former Michigan basketball star Franz Wagner signs max contract

In recent years, the Orlando Magic has started to look like Michigan basketball South, and it turns out that will continue.

There are four former Wolverines on the Magic roster, three of which were drafted by the franchise. Caleb Houstan, Jett Howard, and Franz Wagner were all organic additions to Orlando, while Moe Wagner came aboard after being originally drafted by the Lakers.

And Franz Wagner is about to become a very rich man.

According to ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, the Orlando Magic are signing Wagner to a max rookie extension, a five-year deal worth up to $269 million with incentives.

In 2023-24, Wagner averaged just shy of 20 points per game, with 5.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. It was the best of his three seasons thus far in the professional ranks.

Wagner was the eighth overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft and has increasingly become a valuable asset to the Magic.