Orlando Magic Player Evaluations: Nikola Vucevic
2016 Outlook
Nikola Vucevic’s extension kicks in this upcoming season, firmly entrenching him as the Magic’s center.
To fit with Scott Skiles though, Vucevic has to improve on the defensive end. Skiles seems to think Vucevic can do that and he is improving defensively. It is pretty clear statistically and, even though it does not look like it when watching games, Vucevic has improved his defensive positioning.
He is never going to be the kind of game-changing defensive player a championship team likely needs from the position, but he can still improve and be serviceable.
The fact the Magic invested so much in Vucevic and that this is the first year of his extension means he is going to get minutes. He is not going anywhere.
The 2016 season is going to be about Vucevic continuing his improvement and not taking any step backs with a fresh contract in tow. He has to keep pushing himself forward.
That means continuing to improve in the post and demanding the ball in the post. It means improving his defense and becoming more reliable in the pick and roll. It means getting into position better on the defensive end and cutting off dribble penetration.
He has to continue filling in his game’s holes and improving. The new contract is not the finish line for Vucevic, but just the beginning for him. His new coach is going to demand a lot more from him where his at his weakest.
The chances for trading Vucevic, if there are any, will come a few years down the road. The Magic have to see what they got for their investment in 2016.
Next: Final Grade