2017 Orlando Magic Free Agency Preview: The Centers

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Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers

Mar 20, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) drives to the basket as Philadelphia 76ers forward Robert Covington (33) defends during the second half at Amway Center. Orlando Magic defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 112-109 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

The Orlando Magic are pretty much set at the center position. In all likelihood, they will look elsewhere to spend their free agency money this summer.

The Orlando Magic do not need a center. It is probably the one position where the Magic have two starter-quality players, but two players with clear holes. Two players that hamper a lot of the things they want to do.

Resolving the Magic’s center logjam likely would get the team moving in a clearer direction.

As things stand now, Nikola Vucevic provides plenty of offense and scoring ability, but none of the defensive rim protection teams want to see in a center. Meanwhile, Bismack Biyombo is a good rim protector, but he is a virtual negative on offense. And without strong shooters around him, that weakness only becomes more pronounced.

It seems as though the Magic are at least exploring Nikola Vucevic’s trade market, as they seem to do in every trading period. He still has two years remaining on an extremely affordable and team-friendly contract in terms of his production.

Vucevic will easily average a double double when given the minutes. There is the sense in some ways his time with the Magic has run its course and the team needs to move on in order to improve.

With so much money tied into the center position — $12.25 million for Nikola Vucevic and $17 million for Bismack Biyombo — it is not likely the Magic are looking to add any players to this position. Stephen Zimmerman will enter the second year of his contract as a second-round pick. His salary is non-guaranteed until July 6.

It is not likely the Magic are going to bury him too deep on the bench. They want to see him grow — even if that means he still spends more time with the Lakeland Magic in the G-League.

This is a place where the Magic could be ripe for bringing in a veteran on a minimum contract and seeing if he can make the roster like Arinze Onuaku did last year. The Magic center situation is very similar to the way the team looked last summer then.

There just are not a lot of minutes to spend at center. And that will make it difficult to persuade anyone who is not on the fringes of the NBA to join the Magic.