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Orlando Magic Daily Mailbag Volume 31: Waiting on the team to change

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ORLANDO, FL - FEBRUARY 6: D.J. Augustin #14 of the Orlando Magic brings the ball up court during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Amway Center on February 6, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. The Magic defeated the Cavaliers 116 to 98. 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 Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - FEBRUARY 6: D.J. Augustin #14 of the Orlando Magic brings the ball up court during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Amway Center on February 6, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. The Magic defeated the Cavaliers 116 to 98. 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 Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /
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Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics
ORLANDO, FL – MARCH 16: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic handles the ball against the Boston Celtics on March 16, 2018 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /

I wrote about this a little while ago and spoke about it on Locked On Magic earlier too. I think this is a fascinating, but pretty self-evident question.

Mohamed Bamba is the team’s future at center. Full stop. Eventually he beocmes the starter.

I do not think he is ready to do so yet. I do not think he is ready to play a whole lore more than 25 minutes per game. The Magic were very protective of his minutes during Summer League and I suspect that is the case once the season starts.

That means Nikola Vucevic remains the best center on the roster. And he is productive enough to be fine for the position.

I think this is a somewhat controversial take. My article got some odd responses and some angry diatribes against Vucevic.

But the reality is Bamba is not ready. And Vucevic remains the best center on the roster.Things are pretty clear on that front to me. So I suspect Vucevic will start the year at center.

At some point, I would hope Bamba surpasses him. I am not sold it happens this year — again because I suspect the Magic will bring him along slowly. But it will happen at some point.

Regardless, I think Vucevic either gets traded at the trade deadline or the team lets him go in free agency.

Khem Birch‘s place on the team I think is a lot more difficult to figure out. He should be playing. And I think he fits the team’s direction more than Vucevic (although Vucevic at his best remains a better player).

The center rotation is going to be tough to figure out all year. There is going to be moments where it feels like Bamba is not playing enough. And Khem Birch is going to struggle to squeeze in there. I think the team will try to play Timofey Mozgov some too.

A lot of this gets solved once Vucevic gets traded. But the Magic are not going to give him away in the offseason. Especially since he is still their best player at center. So the Magic go into the year with that logjam. And we will see how the team comes out.

Next. Aaron Gordon focused on future. dark

Thanks for all your questions! You can always stay in touch with me online @omagicdaily!