Orlando Magic Daily
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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) /
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Nikola Vucevic, Mohamed Bamba, Orlando Magic
ORLANDO, FL – JANUARY 13: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic high-fives Mo Bamba #5 of the Orlando Magic after the game against the Houston Rockets on January 13, 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) /

Bamba isn’t ready

The biggest argument against signing Nikola Vucevic to a new contract was definitely a valid one.

Starting Nikola Vucevic once again would undoubtedly impede Mohamed Bamba‘s path to minutes. Of course, it is hard to play any inexperienced rookie over a player who is established and a former All-Star. And the Magic’s emphasis on winning puts a primer on that experience.

A four-year deal for Vucevic certainly seems like an impediment to Mohamed Bamba eventaully ascending into the starting lineup. That is a path to cross down the road. The league continues to prove that any contract indeed can get dealt when the time is right.

Not that the Magic re-signed Vucevic with the intent of trading him down the road.

The plain fact is that in the short term, Bamba is not ready for starter’s minutes. Last year, before his injury ended his season, he averaged 16.3 minutes per game. He played a career-high 25:40 in his lone start last year — a blowout loss to the San Antonio Spurs. He played 20 or more minutes in just six games last year.

Orlando has admittedly brought Bamba along slowly. And there is no sign of that changing.

Bamba was effective in his lone Summer League game. But he certainly still has a lot to improve on. He still needs to add strength and build up his stamina. And Summer League is hardly a NBA game.

The Magic still value Bamba immensely. They are not looking to move him just because they re-signed Vucevic. Orlando still believes Bamba has a big future in this league. They likely still believe he will one day become the team’s starting center.

But that time is not now. And the Magic still have short-term goals they want to achieve.

Without any solid options available to them on the free agent market that can give them what Vucevic does, the Magic opted to keep what they had in place. At least until Bamba is ready. That probably will not be this year.