Orlando Magic Daily
Fansided

2017-18 Orlando Magic Player Evaluations: Nikola Vucevic

By Zach Palmer

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 10: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic follows through on his jump shot during the NBA game between the Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on March 10, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. The Clippers defeated the Magic 113-105. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 10: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic follows through on his jump shot during the NBA game between the Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on March 10, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. The Clippers defeated the Magic 113-105. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 5
Next
Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic
LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 10: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic follows through on his jump shot during the NBA game between the Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on March 10, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. The Clippers defeated the Magic 113-105. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images) /

Nikola Vucevic put together another statistically impressive year for another bad Orlando Magic team. With change on the horizon, the stalwart center finds his future in jeopardy.

Here we are again. The season is over in April and I am writing the season evaluation for Nikola Vucevic.

Once again, as has been the case in all six of his seasons with the Orlando Magic, Vucevic put together a statistically impressive season. Yet it did not correlate to wins at all.

Vucevic attempted to add something new to his skill set this offseason: 3-point shooting. Vucevic attempted 204 3-pointers this season and managed to knock down 64 of them for 31.4 percent. It was an encouraging number and kept some defenses honest, especially early in the season when he made them at an impressive clip.

While the idea of adding a 3-point shot was an admirable one for Vucevic, it clearly did not help the Magic this season. Teams more or less welcomed Vucevic to shoot from range and rightfully so.

Now, in year six of the rebuild, it is time to reflect on what we have seen. And honestly, what I have seen is Vucevic is the appropriate face of this failed, elongated rebuilding process.

Vucevic embodies the culture that has plagued the Magic. There is an obvious air of complacency around him. He sulks about being benched and is essentially the starter by his veteran status with the team. Then again, he often proves himself to be the best of bad options, placing a hard ceiling on a team trying to grow.

Vucevic embodies the culture that never pressed players to be accountable for their faults or their lack of effort. Think about how many times Vucevic let somebody get an uncontested layup when he was in a position to try and contest. The numbers back that up as he gave up 65.9 percent shooting at the rim according to Second Spectrum data on NBA.com. That is the worst mark for him since the NBA started tracking the stat.

Think about how many times Vucevic played a pick and roll and ended up in no man’s land. Or even worse, think about the times he ended up not putting a hand up when the ball handler put up a mid-range jump shot.

With only one year left on his contract, and with the new front office trying to reset the culture in Orlando, the 2018 season will more than likely be Vucevic’s last with the Magic.

It is not that Vucevic was all bad this season. But the team finally seemed unable to find any positive to overcome his flaws. And another frustrating season for the team consumed anything positive for Vucevic in the long run.