Franz Wagner not hindered by elbow sleeve as Magic begin 3-game trip

Franz Wagner wore a padded compression sleeve on his left non-shooting arm during the Magic‘s 22-point win over the Pistons on Sunday at Kia Center.

The Orlando forward had gone through practice wearing the sleeve Saturday at the AdventHealth Center after he was visibly favoring his left elbow against the Jazz last Thursday.

Wagner made it clear post-game Sunday that it’s nothing to worry about.

“It’s a little sensitive but it doesn’t really hinder me, honestly, when I play, so it’s not a huge thing,” he told reporters in the locker room after totaling 13 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks in 29 minutes vs. Detroit.

To be sure, Wagner wasn’t listed on Orlando’s injury report ahead of Sunday’s game and he’s not on it again entering Tuesday’s contest at Charlotte (15-46), the first of a back-to-back on the road (Bally Sports Florida, 7).

The Magic (35-26) battle the Wizards (9-51) the next night in the nation’s capital.

While Wagner is available, Magic guard Markelle Fultz (left knee injury maintenance) is questionable. He previously missed 27 games due to left knee tendinitis and has since sat out six (Jan. 13, 22, 29, Feb. 14, 22, 24) because of injury maintenance.

Fultz has come off the bench the last four games for Orlando, something that doesn’t bother the point guard who has 15 starts this season.

“All I care about is helping this team win,” Fultz said Sunday. “Any way that I can do that. If I’m on the bench, you know, cheering my guys on, bringing them water … If I’m in the game, [I’m] playing as hard as I can.”

Beede’s Breakdown: How Magic handled business against poor Pistons

The Hornets will be without guard LaMelo Ball (right ankle tendinopathy), newly acquired guard Seth Curry (right ankle sprain) and forward Cody Martin (left ankle sprain) while center Nick Richards (right foot plantar fascia discomfort) is questionable.

Wagner explained he “bumped his elbow a little bit” during Orlando’s 8-point win over the Jazz last Thursday. At times, he was seen grabbing at his left elbow throughout the game.

“[I’ve] got the pad on just to give it a little protection so I can still play,” he said.

Added Magic coach Jamahl Mosley before Sunday’s contest: “He got hit the last game. He’s fine.”

It’s a good sign for Orlando and Wagner, who’s led the team in scoring 19 times, in rebounding nine times and in assists 15 times.

On Monday, he was listed among the nominees for NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month for games played in February when he averaged 21.5 points (52.9% FG), 4.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.0 steals in 12 contests.

Wearing the padded sleeve wasn’t a problem either.

“It’s OK,” Wagner said. “Obviously a little different than usual but not too different, honestly. I didn’t really think about it in the game.”

Mosley was also among the nominees for Coach of the Month in the East for February when Orlando went 9-3. Miami’s Erik Spoelstra won the coaching award while Celtics forward Jayson Tatum was named the top East player.

The game at Charlotte is the first of a three-game trip that ends at New York on Friday.

The Magic enter the stretch sixth in the East, above the mark for the Play-In Tournament and a half-game in front of the Heat (34-26). Orlando trails the fifth-seeded 76ers (35-25) by half a game and is only one game behind the fourth-seeded Knicks (36-25).

“The teams that are going to make the playoffs are those who stay focused the best, stay in the moment and keep getting better as the season goes on,” Wagner said. “We’ve got to have that approach.”

Magic Among Top Work Places in Sports

The Sports Business Journal recognized the Magic as one of the best places to work in sports, the publication announced Monday.

The franchise was the only team of the four major American sports leagues (NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL) to be picked for the award that “recognizes the best companies across select categories for their leadership and unwavering commitment to their employees,” according to a release.

The Magic won Silver Medalist honors in the Team/League/Governing Body category with 50 or more employees as part of SBJ’s inaugural “Best Places to Work in Sports 2023” awards.

More than 12,000 employees from nearly 200 companies took part in a confidential employee satisfaction survey administered last fall by SBJ partner Quantum Workplace.

The survey measured key areas that make up an organization’s culture, such as compensation, benefits, confidence in co-workers and trust in senior leadership.

Email Jason Beede at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on X, known as Twitter, at @therealBeede.