Jevon Carter fell out of favor in Chicago and primarily became a spectator over the last two seasons. After being granted the opportunity to find a new home, the former Milwaukee Bucks guard was swiftly picked up by the Orlando Magic, who have given him the opportunity to actually play and showcase his value. He has been the perfect sparkplug for their second unit.
Magic are glad to have Jevon Carter on their side
In six games with the Magic, Carter is averaging 7.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and one steal per game while shooting 35.7 percent on his triples. While not eye-popping numbers, Carter has had an all-around impact off the bench, doing all of the little things that make a good role player a Swiss Army Knife every team needs.
The biggest spot, unsurprisingly, Carter has made an impact in has been with his defense, particularly his full-court pressure. In Milwaukee, he was loved for his defensive tenacity, often picking up players the full length of the floor. Magic coach Jamahl Mosley recently praised this, saying, "He picks up full court. He's about winning on winning terms."
Carter has already been an upgrade over Tyus Jones, who had been Orlando's backup point guard this season before being shipped out in a trade. In 48 games this season, Jones averaged just three points, 2.4 assists, and 1.1 rebounds per matchup while shooting 29.4 percent from long distance. A small upgrade like this can make all the difference down the stretch.
Buyout market moves rarely make a significant impact on their new teams, but every now and then, teams can find a solid late-season addition. Carter is that.
Bucks fans knew Jevon Carter could make an impact
Carter spent 141 regular season games with the Bucks between the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. Initially a nice buyout market pickup for depth, Carter quickly made a name for himself through stellar defense and sweet perimeter shooting. The following season, Carter's importance skyrocketed as he started in 39 games, more than he had combined in any other year of his career.
While the Milwaukee Bucks would have loved to have kept the two-way sparkplug in town, he left in free agency after inking a lucrative deal with the Bulls. Considering that he was a fringe NBA player when he joined the Bucks, the opportunity to sign a three-year deal worth $19.5 million was proof that he had grown so much during his time in Milwaukee.
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