With all of the rumors that Nikola Vucevic may be on the trading block, there have been a lot of ideas floating around the web about possible trade scenarios involving the Orlando Magic’s center.
The moment the Orlando Magic agreed to a four-year, $70-million contract with center Bismack Biyombo many wondered what that meant for Nikola Vucevic’s future with the team. Will he be coming off the bench? Is Biyombo a $70-million backup?
As fans wait patiently for training camp for an answer, we found out what Vucevic thought about his future in Orlando. In an interview with SiriusXM NBA Radio on Thursday, Vucevic explained why he thinks the starting center position is his.
"“I think that I have proven that I am definitely a starter in this league and I believe to be one of the best centers in the league. I don’t think there’s any reason for me to come off the bench.”"
Vucevic is right, he is a starting-caliber NBA center. But that may not be his role with this particular Orlando Magic roster.
Throughout the offseason, Orlando has clearly shown the team wants to be a defensive powerhouse led by big rim protectors. Serge Ibaka and Bismack Biyombo are two guys that fit the mold, Vucevic is not.
During Biyombo’s introductory press conference, the Orlando Magic admitted Biyombo was their number one priority. It is unlikely Orlando would prioritize a backup center.
The writing is on the wall he may need to come off the bench in coach Frank Vogel’s rotation. Whether Vucevic will agree to that has yet to be seen. Even if Vucevic starts, the hefty investment the Magic made in Biyombo suggests the center position is accounted for long term.
All of these signs indicate Vucevic is not going to be the starter, even if the reality is there will be an open competition at the beginning of camp. That is still a downgrade from Vucevic’s stranglehold over the position.
It points to Nikola Vucevic becoming a hot commodity on the trade market, even if the Magic are not looking around right now.
If this situation were to present itself, the question becomes, what would the Magic get in return for Vucevic? There are multiple destinations Vucevic could land but which ones benefit the Magic the most?
There is a market for Vucevic as teams begin searching around for ways to fill out their rosters and free agency quieting down. The trade may not come today, it may not come before the season, but something will emerge and, with someone likely unhappy with their role, the time to cash in may be coming.
The following trade proposals have been gathered from various websites and team sites interested in Vucevic. All of the proposals give insight as to what Vucevic’s market would be if Orlando started to shop him around.
Next: Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
Dave Deckard of SBNation’s Blazers Edge threw out the idea of players like Al-Farouq Aminu and Mason Plumlee getting sent to Orlando for Vucevic. If this trade were to happen the Magic would definitely be getting a center in return, but a clear backup.
Plumlee would be a solid backup to Biyombo and is still developing as a player. Aminu is a good player, but he would essentially bury Aaron Gordon.
Regardless of the fit, both of these players are great returns for a player like Vucevic. The only problem is they really do not make sense for the Magic. The other problem is Portland does not have a lot of draft picks. If Orlando were to trade Vucevic, they may be looking for a few picks and a player in return.
Portland’s offseason has been very similar to Orlando’s offseason. Both organizations had hopes to land a star in free agency but failed to do so. The Trail Blazers were able to land Evan Turner and Festus Ezeli however.
The Trail Blazers have a playoff-worthy squad at the moment led by their amazing guard duo. Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum are going to be the two pieces the franchise will build around. Adding Vucevic may not be the star the team is looking for, but many feel he is in the next tier.
Vucevic would provide a major scoring boost to the Portland front court and would be an upgrade over Plumlee and Ezeli. Defensively, their starting rotation probably will not be very good. Vucevic struggles when he switches on defense and Lillard and McCollum aren’t great either.
In general, Vucevic will still be an upgrade over any of the centers on the Blazers’ roster. The trade will have to send one of their big men to Orlando and it would be Plumlee in all likelihood.
Next: Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte Hornets
Swarm and Sting’s Joseph Falco Calamore made this trade proposal for Vucevic:
This is a big haul for Vucevic. Sending over a capable young wing in Jeremy Lamb and another young big man in Frank Kaminsky are two valuable assets. Spencer Hawes is on a good veteran contract and a first-round pick is a great throw in.
When it comes to Lamb, he might take time away from Mario Hezonja which is not ideal if Orlando sees him as a franchise piece along with Elfrid Payton and Aaron Gordon. Lamb can also play the wing so that takes away from Gordon too.
Looking at the roster, Kaminsky could be a really good backup big. Coming off the bench Kaminsky could be a great effort player and paired with a rim protector he could be successful.
For Charlotte, this trade makes a ton of sense. Vucevic and Walker running the pick and roll would be fun to watch. Again, Vucevic’s defense is a problem, but so was Al Jefferson, and Steve Clifford was able to get the Hornets to become a top-10 defense last year.
Although there are a lot of players being sent to Orlando in this trade scenario, they really do not seem to fit the Magic’s plan. It is a solid idea and a trade with Charlotte may work, but I do not see Orlando accepting this as written.
Next: Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are trying to compete with the teams at the top of the Eastern Conference. They brought in Al Horford on a max contract, but they still are looking to add another star. They have been in trade rumors surrounding Blake Griffin, Russell Westbrook and Jimmy Butler.
What if the Celtics fall flat on attaining another star? They could look toward Nikola Vucevic.
Jeremy Karll of Hardwood Houdini dove into what it would mean to bring Vucevic to Boston.
He proposed two options:
Both of the options provide little for Orlando.
Terry Rozier and Marcus Smart are a pair of developing guards who will not help the Magic day one. Not to mention they would cause a mess of guards in the rotation. D.J. Augustin is going to see the majority of minutes as the backup point guard and Jodie Meeks and Hezonja will by vying for time at the two.
If Orlando were to send Vucevic to Boston, they will be looking for a backup center in return. Although Jordan Mickey may eventually develop into a rotational center, he will need time to develop. Orlando cannot trust Mickey with solid minutes during 2017 if the Playoffs are indeed the goal.
The 2018 pick will not be the Brooklyn Nets’ pick either. It will be the worse of the two 2018 picks Boston has which does not do Orlando much good.
This trade is pretty lopsided. Boston has plenty of assets to send to Orlando if the team wants Vucevic. Orlando will not be asking for Isaiah Thomas or Horford (nor would the Celtics give them up), but they will want a player who will bring production to the Magic right away.
What Karll offers simply will not cut it.
Next: Conclusion
Conclusion
After diving into all of the proposals, they all say something about Vucevic’s trade market.
First of all, a lot of teams are going to be interested in him. He is a good player and his offensive game is special. Like Oklahoma City center Enes Kanter, Vucevic can put up big point totals on a nightly basis. On his scoring alone, teams could see Vucevic as a great addition to their squads.
In regards to what Orlando fans should expect in return, well, it may disappoint some.
NBA teams typically look for a defensive big in a starter. Players that can protect the rim and be the anchor to the defense. Vucevic cannot provide that. With that being said, he will not be viewed as a franchise piece to many teams.
Thus, causing his value to drop and force the Magic to accept a trade that many feel to be lopsided. Vucevic has been arguably Orlando’s most consistent player the past few years and if he gets traded fans are going to expect an All-Star-caliber player. That just is not going to happen.
Building around an offensive center like Vucevic is tough. Orlando has learned that firsthand and have changed their entire identity in the process. That is not taking anything away from Vucevic. He is a great player and could really help a winning team. He is a player that can help put a team over the top.
As we have seen with Oklahoma City with Kanter, Vucevic may be best suited for a role as a team’s sixth man. He could absolutely dominate in that situation.
On a winning team that is competing for a championship, Vuc may be more open to taking a reduced role as well.
Next: The Orlando Magic's recruiting pitch
Based on this market analysis, Orlando would receive a backup big to replace Vucevic, another veteran or young developmental pieces and possibly a draft pick down the line. The closer the NBA season gets, the more Vucevic’s market could heat up or all of this speculation could be for naught.