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 Jokic, Denver Nuggets, Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 05: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic plays defense against Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets in the first half at Amway Center on December 05, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Harry Aaron/Getty Images) /

The new wave of centers

Looking at the teams that are on the rise in the NBA and the teams that are competigin for the NBA title, and a new kind of center has begun to emerge.

There are still the hulking centers that stalk players in the paint and protect the rim. The Dwight Howard style of play still has its uses — the Utah Jazz’s Rudy Gobert being the best example of this.

But another kind of center has quickly emerged. The space-eating distributing center. Someone teams can run in pick and pops or have direct the offense out of the high post. These centers are also finding a lot of usefulness among the top teams.

The Milwaukee Bucks used Brook Lopez (36.5 percent 3-point shooting) as a floor-spacing big man with Giannis Antetokounmpo handling a lot more of the rim protection and paint protection duties.

The Denver Nuggets used Nikola Jokic (30.7 percent 3-point shooting last year and 7.3 assists per game) as the crux of their offense, slinging passes from the high posts and threatening teams from beyond the arc.

The Toronto Raptors had Marc Gasol to spread the floor and do much of the same (44.2 percent 3-point shooting and 3.2 assists per game after joining the Raptors).

These kinds of centers have found a lot of success. And Vucevic is very much in their vane.

Last year, Vucevic shot 36.4 percent from beyond the arc and dished out 3.8 assists per game. He is among the best centers in both categories.

According to NBA.com’s listing of centers, Vucevic was fourth in 3-point percentage among all centers who played at least 20 minutes per game and took 1.0 3-point attempts per game. He was also fifth among all centers in assists per game.

With a better understanding of his role and what coach Steve Clifford expects from him, it is reasonable to think those numbers could improve. Vucevic is entering the peak of his career and that is what the Magic are betting on.

But it is also clear Vucevic fits this mold and is a more-than-serviceable center to play that role. The Magic will put him once again in those situations and have the offense revolve around him.

If he can keep growing, it is clear this formula can work for centers at a very high level.