Paolo Banchero, Magic agree to five-year rookie max extension

Paolo Banchero, Magic agree to five-year rookie max extension 1 | ASL

Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero has agreed to a five-year, $239 million maximum rookie contract extension that could reach $287 million, Mike Miller of LIFT Sports Management told ESPN.

Miller said Banchero’s new deal includes triggers to elevate the base salary to the supermaximum should the Magic franchise cornerstone make either All-NBA team, either All-Defensive team or earn MVP or honors next season.

The deal also has a player option for Banchero in 2030-31 — the first time a rookie max extension has had a player option since 2021, when (Dallas Mavericks) and Trae Young (Atlanta Hawks) completed their rookie max contracts.

The Magic now have their core of Banchero, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs under contract for the next five years as well as the newly acquired Desmond Bane under contract through the 2028-29 season.

Orlando’s selection of Banchero with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 draft triggered a turnaround for the franchise that has led to two postseason appearances over the last two seasons.

Despite an oblique injury that sidelined him for 34 games over the first two months, Banchero went on to have a career year this past season, setting new highs with 25.9 points and 7.5 rebounds per game while also averaging 4.8 assists.

He’s just the eighth player in NBA history to average 25, 7 and 4 at age 22 or younger. And he joined Tracy McGrady and as the only Magic players to average more than 25 points per game in a season.

Banchero took his game to another level after the All-Star break, averaging 29.0 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists. In the playoffs, he put together seven straight games with 25 points or more spanning the 2024 and 2025 seasons, tying the longest streak in Magic history.

His 4,432 career points is third in Magic history, behind only O’Neal and Penny Hardaway.

The 2022-23 NBA Rookie of the Year, who earned his first All-Star selection in 2024, has averaged 22.4 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists in his three NBA seasons.

Source: espn.com