2) Nikola Vucevic, $50.8 million/5 yrs.
Nikola Vucevic was truly close to being an All Star this year. He has earned that distinction with the way he gobbles up rebounds and has improved his ability to read pick and rolls as a center, step out and hit jumpers and pair that with a pretty advanced post game.
Does Vucevic have his limitations? Absolutely.
He does not have a ton of lateral quickness and does not have athleticism to rim run or protect the rim on defense. Vucevic is never going to be an elite defender, although he has improved with his ability to remain vertical and gain position. It is going to be a work in progress on that end for him and he needs the right player around him.
Right now, as Simmons notes, Vucevic might be a better fantasy player than NBA player (ranked with Jonas Valanciunas at No. 49 and 48):
"Two enticing young centers with defensive flaws: Jonas needs to fix the whole “I’m playing for a contender that’s afraid to keep me out there in the fourth quarter” thing, and Vucevic needs to fix the whole “Right now, I’m a much better fantasy player than a real NBA player” thing. At gunpoint, I’d pick Vucevic only because we have to take every current Magic player’s career with a grain of salt — it’s unclear whether Jacque Vaughn should be managing a Costco, much less coaching an NBA team."
But finding a 24-year-old 7-footer who can consistently rack up double doubles is not a common thing. And the Magic got a steal for a player like that in signing him to a four-year, $48 million extension. With the high demand for centers — remember the Knicks seem to be focused on Monroe and Gasol this summer — Vucevic could have gotten a humongous deal.
Now making about $12 million per year, Vucevic is on a pretty moveable deal should the Magic need an upgrade or cash in on the young center down the line.
That part is valuable in evaluating the deal the Magic gave Vucevic.
If Orlando made Vucevic available, teams would be lining up to acquire him. There seems to be no doubt about that. And, despite his defensive deficiencies, the Magic feel very comfortable with him as their center for the long term.
Next: No. 1 Victor Oladipo