The Magic and Nikola Vucevic have officially agreed to a contract extension. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. However several outlets have reported the deal is worth $53 million over four years. The extension terms will kick in starting next season.
The usually stoic Vucevic was comparatively beaming in talking to the media at shootaround Wednesday after the deal was reported Tuesday evening. Vucevic went out and turned in a solid 12-point, six-rebound performance in about 20 minutes of action in Wednesday’s preseason game. There had to be some relief and excitement on his part that the deal got done.
The Magic seem pretty happy.
“Today is an exciting day for Nik (Vučević) and his family, as well as our entire organization,” Magic general manager Rob Hennigan said in a press release. “Since arriving in Orlando, Nik has demonstrated consistent work habits and a constant hunger to improve. He’s a high character, team-first player. We are proud of his development and are looking forward to continuing to grow together.”
This is the kind of player the Magic have chosen to install as one of the first long-term pillars for this organization during its rebuild. The pressure will be on him to live up to this reportedly hefty contract. Of course, the rising salary cap may lessen that load and make Vucevic appropriately paid. For certain, Orlando felt it important enough to overpay a bit now to lock him in and one report has the deal heavily laid with incentives (up to $5 million in incentives).
Again, only the future can tell us what is in store for Vucevic.
Nikola Vucevic still has a lot to improve on, but he has earned his place in teh NBA. Photo by Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
“I felt the past two years have helped me a lot,” Vucevic said after Wednesday’s game. “ helped me with my confidence. They have helped me with my confidence. They have helped me when I had bad games. They have supported me when we have had tough times as a team. Now, them willing to give me this extension, knowing they count on me to be one of the main pieces for the future, means a lot to me.”
Vucevic got some kudos from Dwight Howard himself before Wednesday’s game. Vucevic said it was nice to get recognition from the best players in the game and other players who congratulated the young big man on getting the extension. Vucevic has survived that rookie contract and earned more than a living in the NBA.
That is not going to change him he said. His focus and performance Wednesday against the Rockets certainly suggested Vucevic is ready to play and continue his upward trajectory. Like for the rest of the Magic, this is an important season for him.
That may not be a difference from any other season — even with the extension now official.
Vucevic has the demeanor and mindset that the Magic want to see from one of their new pillars.
“I just do what I do,” Vucevic said. “I’m just confident. I am going to play well for this team and help this team win games. That’s all that matters at the end of the day. I’m going to do my best. I know I’m good enough to play at a high level. I don’t think about it as they gave me this contract I have to do something crazy. I just have to keep doing what I do and keep getting better, every game, every day, every year.”