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Orlando Magic: The 2019 NBA Trade Deadline presents impossible decisions

By Zach Palmer

ORLANDO, FL - NOVEMBER 17: Jeff Weltman and John Hammond of the Orlando Magic during practice on November 17, 2017 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 2017 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - NOVEMBER 17: Jeff Weltman and John Hammond of the Orlando Magic during practice on November 17, 2017 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 2017 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers
ORLANDO, FL – NOVEMBER 17: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers on November 17, 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) /

Re-signing still an option

Does this mean the Orlando Magic will commit to Nikola Vucevic long term in the summer? That will come down to price and that is a much harder question to answer.

Vucevic will likely (and rightly) be looking for one huge long-term payday this summer. The Magic just invested the sixth overall pick in the draft on Mohammed Bamba. The team seems like it has its long-term answer at center.

While Bamba has disappointed many fans in his rookie year, his struggles this season were easy to see coming. He was a project pick and big men typically take longer to get acclimated to the league anyway.

Bamba may very well be 2-3 seasons away from truly being ready to start. But this does not mean the Magic should invest a lot of money into Vucevic this summer to keep him.

Whether or not Magic fans like it, Vucevic at 28 years old does not necessarily match up with the timelines of Aaron Gordon or Jonathan Isaac. Additionally, keeping Vucevic would cap Bamba’s playing time in addition to not allowing Orlando to discover their post-Vucevic style of play.

Orlando has to be very careful with Vucevic and how much they are willing to invest in him this summer — as well as how they would like to structure that deal. If Orlando can front load a potential Nikola Vucevic contract like they did with Aaron Gordon, that might change some of the calculus.

Those are discussions for the summer. And there are a few alternatives.

The Magic could easily sign a more middle of the pack starter like Nerlens Noel or Robin Lopez and use them to slowly ween Mohamed Bamba into the starting role while allowing the team to play a sustained type of way out of the center spot.

But as for this season, I expect the Magic to hang onto Vucevic and compete for the playoff spot. It is not an easy decision, especially when the team will likely let him walk in the summer. But the return has to make sense.

Fringe young players just do not make sense to add when the Magic already have so many of them.