Mo Wagner Ready to Return for Orlando Magic

Cleared to play and set for his season debut

Mo Wagner is finally back on the court after missing a long stretch with an ACL tear. The center went down in December 2024 and sat out the rest of that season and the start of this one while rehabbing his knee. The team has cleared him to play, and he’s expected to make his season debut at home against the New Orleans Pelicans.

The timing is convenient: Orlando sits 21-18 and could use the boost, while the Pelicans are near the bottom of the standings. Wagner’s return gives the Magic another rotation piece as they push toward the playoff stretch.

What he brings and why it matters

Before the injury Wagner was coming off a breakout bench role, averaging about 12.9 points and 5.9 rebounds in under 20 minutes a night and even being mentioned as a Sixth Man of the Year candidate. He’s a reliable finisher around the rim, brings physical rebounding, and can inject energy when the second unit is on the floor.

He also signed a one-year deal this past offseason, so expect him to be motivated to show he’s fully healthy and worth a bigger role moving forward. For Orlando, adding Wagner’s scoring and rebounding depth could help them improve their seeding and long-term playoff outlook.