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2019 Orlando Magic Player Outlook: Nikola Vucevic

By Joe Buckley

Milwaukee, WI - APRIL 9: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks on April 9, 2018 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
Milwaukee, WI - APRIL 9: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks on April 9, 2018 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 3: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic goes to the basket against the New York Knicks on April 3, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 3: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic goes to the basket against the New York Knicks on April 3, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

What To Look For

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Nikola Vucevic has always been a model of consistency offensively as one of the Orlando Magic’s best offensive weapons. He is good for an average around 16 points per game and is nearly a double-double every night.

Vucevic’s varied offensive game has a decent post game that the Magic want to return to with him and a growing perimeter game. Yes, Vucevic often settles for his jumper too much. But he has in the past hit that mid-range jumper at an incredibly efficient clip and has now added a 3-point shot to his game.

Last year when Vucevic started the year shooting 34.3 percent from beyond the arc before his injury, it helped grow his game. It is easy to argue that Vucevic was playing his best basketball in the games leading up to that injury as the injuries piled up. Even defensively.

Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic /

Orlando Magic

Vucevic is not a good defender by any means. But he is a better defender than a lot of people give him credit for. He is not going to block shots or change many shots at the rim but he will hold his own. Vucevic gets into a defensive rhythm like he does with a shot. When he is on, he is pretty good. But not game changing.

Still, that leaves a lot to be desired. And that will be one of the enduring storylines facing Vucevic this season.

At this point, Orlando knows what it can expect from Vucevic every season.

Defense that at its best is average and at its worst porous. And offense that is consistent if sometimes frustrating with his penchant for mid-range jumpers.

That does not mean he is not the team’s best option at center. He is far more consistent and able to add soemthing to the team than anyone else on the roster. Vucevic is quietly one of the better passing big men in the league (not on Nikola Jokic or Marc Gasol‘s level, but he is a notch or two below).

Orlando will use him to his fullest extent once again and get the solid counting numbers. The question is whether that can impact winning in the end.