2016-17 Orlando Magic Player Evaluations: Nikola Vucevic

2018 Outlook

Honestly, it is hard to say what Nikola Vucevic’s outlook is for 2018.

He showed improvement as a defender. But the team still cannot trust him consistently to slow down pick and rolls against the league’s most athletic position. Ideally, Vucevic would be the sixth man on this Orlando team, bringing his consistent scoring off the bench so the Magic would not turn completely anemic once the starters head out.

In 20 games as a reserve, Vucevic averaged 14.3 points and 9.4 rebounds per game in 28.2 minutes per game.

But we have seen this year Vucevic thinks fairly highly of himself and is not necessarily willing to take on that role. He claimed he was the best player on the team when the team was struggling. He also noted his displeasure when Bismack Biyombo took over the starting role.

Vucevic has proven he is a solid NBA player. The problem he is facing now is he has been a featured player on a bad team for five straight seasons. He does not seem willing to accept a lesser role because his role has been established for so long.

Vucevic’s professionalism should be applauded, he has done nothing to make the franchise look bad. He is mostly positive. And when he does air his displeasure, he does not seem very malicious.

But for Orlando’s long-term interest it may be best to part ways with him. The Magic have $28 million per year invested in centers and neither Biyombo nor Vucevic rank in the top half of NBA starters at their position.

The team needs to be rebuilt and Vucevic may be the first casualty of that process.