Jevon Carter Joins Orlando Magic: A Low-Risk, High-Upside Addition for the Stretch Run
Jevon Carter is heading back into the playoff mix. The veteran guard has signed a rest-of-season deal with the Orlando Magic, giving the 30-year-old a shot at meaningful minutes on a young team with postseason aspirations. After being waived by the Bulls on February 1 to make room for trade flexibility, Carter quickly found a new home-and potentially a new role-in Orlando.
For Carter, this move is about more than just staying in the league. It’s a chance to contribute to a team that’s firmly in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
The Magic, currently 26-24 and sitting seventh in the East, are looking to solidify their rotation and add some veteran shooting for the stretch run. Carter checks both boxes.
A Change in the Backcourt
The timing of Carter’s arrival coincides with the departure of Tyus Jones, who never quite found his footing in Orlando. In 48 games, Jones averaged just 3.0 points and 2.4 assists per game while shooting a rough 34% from the floor and 29% from deep. That’s a steep drop-off for a player who had previously been one of the league’s more efficient backup point guards, consistently shooting over 40% from three and posting double-digit scoring with solid playmaking.
Carter, while not lighting it up in Chicago, was quietly more productive. He averaged 5.4 points in just 11 minutes per game and shot 41% from beyond the arc-exactly the kind of shooting Orlando has been lacking off the bench. He’s not a high-usage guy, but he knows how to make his minutes count, especially when he’s spotting up or spacing the floor for the Magic’s young core.
A Familiar Role, A New Opportunity
This isn’t uncharted territory for Carter. In fact, this Orlando stint could mirror his time in Milwaukee, where he carved out a valuable role off the bench.
After arriving at the 2022 trade deadline, Carter became a reliable two-way contributor for the Bucks, playing all but one game in the 2022-23 season and starting 39 of them. That year, he posted career-highs with 8.0 points and 2.4 assists per game while hitting 42% from deep.
He hasn’t hit those marks since, and his tenure in Chicago didn’t live up to the three-year, $19.5 million deal he signed in free agency. But now, on an expiring contract and with less pressure, Carter has a chance to recalibrate-and potentially reestablish himself as a valuable rotation piece on a playoff team.
What Carter Brings to Orlando
The Magic aren’t asking Carter to be a star. They’re asking him to be solid, steady, and smart-the same things he’s been throughout most of his eight-year career.
He brings defensive toughness, floor spacing, and a veteran presence to a team that’s still figuring out how to win consistently. He’s a plug-and-play guard who can give you 10-15 minutes of competent basketball, hit open shots, and hold his own on the defensive end.
For a team that’s struggled with bench production and outside shooting, Carter’s skill set fits a clear need. And while his role may not be huge, it could be meaningful-especially in close games down the stretch or in a playoff series where every possession matters.
Bottom line: the Magic didn’t swing for the fences here, but they didn’t need to. They added a proven shooter and a seasoned guard who knows how to stay ready. And for a team on the rise, that kind of move can make all the difference.