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Forging the Future: What the Orlando Magic should do with Nikola Vucevic

By Zach Palmer

TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 23: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic talks at the press conference after Game Five of Round One of the 2019 NBA Playoffs against the Toronto Raptors on April 23, 2019 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 23: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic talks at the press conference after Game Five of Round One of the 2019 NBA Playoffs against the Toronto Raptors on April 23, 2019 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic, Joe Harris, Brooklyn Nets
ORLANDO, FL – FEBRUARY 2: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic and Joe Harris #12 of the Brooklyn Nets fight for the rebound during the game on February 2, 2019 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The defensive future

This brings us back to Mohammed Bamba.

Why did the Orlando Magic take Bamba? They took him for his massive defensive potential.

For all the improvement Nikola Vucevic made this year, he still is not a natural shot blocker or rim protector. Teams will still seek to attack him and Vucevic’s margin for error defensive remains small.

Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic /

Orlando Magic

Bamba, in his limited playing time, showed to be better at roaming the paint and helping off his man and recovering than Vucevic has at any point in his career.

Obviously, Bamba has a lot to learn that Vucevic already has mastered in terms of defense, but the potential there is clearly a lot higher.

The big picture that the Magic will look at is figuring out their identity moving forward.

Based on what the front office has put together so far, it is easy to believe this team is working itself up to become a lockdown defensive team with size and athleticism at each position. Orlando finished this season eighth in the league in defensive rating and coach Steve Clifford has long emphasized defense with his Charlotte Hornets team.

Defense is who this team wants to be.

While Vucevic provides size, he does not provide lockdown defensive potential nor does he provide athleticism. He does not fit the profile.

Looking at the roster, there are players like Markelle Fultz, Melvin Frazier Jr., Wesley Iwundu, Jonathan Isaac, Aaron Gordon and Mohamed Bamba. Vucevic does not seem to possess the traits that these players have.

There is really no reason for the Magic to delay this change. If Vucevic does not fit the team’s long-term vision, why commit to him long term? There is no guarantee he will work as a trade chip. Vucevic has been one of the most heavily rumored players for several years and yet the Magic consistently retained him.

Orlando needs to start shaping their team to this future.

Defensively, Magic players outside of Vucevic would be best suited to play an aggressive defensive scheme that would allow players to pressure the ball and create turnovers. But with Vucevic as the current paint protector, aggressive defense seems like a mistake because he will not be able to clean up mistakes.

Orlando also cannot run a swtich-all defense because Vucevic is not quick enough to get out on the perimeter.