Orlando Magic Daily
Fansided

Keeping Nikola Vucevic was a necessity for Orlando Magic

By Philip Rossman-Reich

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 06: Orlando Magic Center Nikola Vucevic (9) looks on during a NBA game between the Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Clippers on January 6, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 06: Orlando Magic Center Nikola Vucevic (9) looks on during a NBA game between the Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Clippers on January 6, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic, Memphis Grizzlies
MEMPHIS, TN – MARCH 10: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic handles the ball against the Memphis Grizzlies on March 10, 2019 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. 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 Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Keeping the winning going

For six years, the Orlando Magic were lost in the midst of a frustrating rebuild. It had its bright moments and then its rushed and disastrous moments. The journey for Nikola Vucevic and his place on this team were frustrating for everyone involved. Orlando could not turn the corner.

So the 2019 season and its playoff push was a breath of fresh air. It proved that the team could take this important step with better infrastructure and coaching behind them. The players were certainly hungry to turn things around and committed to the process to get them there.

The Magic’s whole offseason was built around keeping this thing going. They doubled down on their team to make a push for a second playoff berth and to see their team — especially their young guys — continue to grow.

Whether or not Nikola Vucevic got better-than-market value — and the Al Horford contract suggests he probably got what the market would give him — is irrelevant to this part of the argument. The relevant part is that there were not many better options than Vucevic on the market.

And without any better players on the market, Vucevic was the team’s best option to keep winning and keep things moving in the right direction.

It took the Magic some time to get themselves together and truly believe they could be a playoff team. It took an incredible 22-9 run to make the playoffs. And to make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference especially, it only takes a strong two months.

To think the Magic can bring back the same roster and see the same results is folly. It will be a different team with different dynamics.

But Vucevic was the most solid and consistent piece of that puzzle. It is hard to imagine removing him from the equation and finding anywhere near the same results.