There was a different kind of energy buzzing through the AdventHealth Training Center on Monday morning - and for good reason. For the first time in nearly three months, Franz Wagner was back on the court in a practice jersey, running with his teammates, and officially cleared to play. Head coach Jamahl Mosley confirmed the upgrade: Wagner went from questionable to available for Monday night’s matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks.
That’s big. Not just because Wagner is one of Orlando’s most important players, but because it marks the first time since mid-November that the Magic could roll out their full starting lineup - or close to it.
Wendell Carter Jr. was a late scratch from the injury report with left ankle soreness, so the full reunion might have to wait. Still, this was a major step forward.
But there’s a caveat. Mosley made it clear Wagner would be on a “very strict” minute restriction.
After missing 25 of the last 27 games - including the last nine straight - the Magic aren’t rushing anything. They’ve been down this road before, and they know getting a player back from a long layoff isn’t as simple as plugging him back in and expecting instant results.
It’s a process, one that demands patience, communication, and a willingness to ride out the bumps.
“Just being smart about how we use their minutes,” Mosley said after shootaround. “Keep in constant communication with those guys as the game goes on and see how they feel - what they’re recognizing within the game.
It’s all about communication. Not just with the player, but with our training staff and coaches, so we know exactly what we need to be doing at any given moment.”
That communication has already played a central role in how the team has handled injuries this season. Moe Wagner, for example, sat out the Magic’s game in London after feeling discomfort.
He didn’t try to push through it, and the team supported that decision. Franz took a similar approach.
He tried to play through ankle pain overseas but ultimately recognized it wasn’t improving and made the call to sit.
Now that he’s back, he knows the pain might not be fully gone - but the lesson is clear: take your time, listen to your body, and don’t force it.
And the Magic get it. They’ve seen firsthand how tricky these returns can be.
Suggs’ Return: A Case Study in Patience
Jalen Suggs is a perfect example. He’s been working his way back after missing eight games in January with an MCL contusion - just two games after returning from a hip strain. His return has been a mixed bag: flashes of brilliance, but also some rust and inconsistency.
In the eight games since coming back, Suggs is averaging 11.9 points per game while shooting just 30% from deep (15-for-50). He’s had moments where he’s looked a little out of sync, pressing the issue or struggling to find his rhythm. But there have also been some big-time performances.
Take Thursday’s win over the Brooklyn Nets. Suggs notched his first career triple-double with 15 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists - a real showcase of his versatility and motor.
Two nights later, he followed it up with a 12-point, 4-for-11 shooting effort against the Jazz. Not his cleanest game, but he still chipped in seven boards and six assists.
And in the fourth quarter of that comeback win, he hit a game-tying three and added seven points, four rebounds, and three assists.
That’s the rollercoaster. That’s what happens when a player is trying to shake off the rust and get back into game shape.
“It’s always hard missing time and coming back and re-finding that rhythm,” Suggs said Monday. “It’s different than coming out here and getting reps and shooting shots.
You get in the game, no matter what you want to say, it’s different. The speed and pace in which you are moving, how and where you are getting your shots.
I’m feeling confident coming off the last couple of games. That always helps.”
Confidence helps. Game reps help more. And the Magic are giving Suggs the space to work through it, knowing that the payoff could be huge.
Franz’s Return: What It Means
Now it’s Franz’s turn to go through that process.
His last outing - the much-anticipated return game in Berlin - was a mixed performance. Wagner looked understandably rusty, finishing with 18 points on 6-for-16 shooting. But he also delivered in crunch time, knocking down a clutch three to tie the game and scoring 11 of those 18 points in the fourth quarter.
That’s the Wagner Orlando knows and needs. The guy who can create his own shot, stretch the floor, and defend multiple positions. The guy who, when healthy, has All-Star-level impact.
“Franz is an All-Star, to be honest, when he’s healthy,” Suggs said after shootaround. “Having him back - the gravity he pulls on offense, the way he can guard defensively - having that back as part of our unit makes a big difference.
The rest is just really big mentally. Knowing we have a full crew now and nobody else out, we can work our way back to a full unit and get that chemistry down.”
And that’s the key. Chemistry.
Continuity. The Magic have been playing shorthanded for weeks, piecing together lineups and adjusting on the fly.
Wagner’s return doesn’t just boost the talent level - it brings a sense of cohesion back to the group.
Of course, it’s going to take some time. Mosley admitted things might look “clunky” at first as Wagner finds his rhythm and the team recalibrates.
That’s to be expected. But the hope is that this is the beginning of something more - a fully healthy roster ready to make a push down the stretch.
The Magic have shown they can compete even when banged up. Now, with Wagner back in the fold, they’re hoping to find another gear.
Patience is still the word of the day. But the pieces are starting to fall into place.