If you had told Orlando Magic fans before the start of the season that Nikola Vucevic was going to be averaging 24.6 points, 11.6 rebounds and was going to knock down 41-percent of his threes by the All-Star break, few would have expected or anticipated the team would be sitting 14th in the Eastern Conference with the fourth-worst record in the entire NBA.
Unfortunately, Nikola Vucevic’s incredible stat-line and performances on the court only tell half of the story.
Injuries have decimated the Magic to the extent that Steve Clifford has, on occasion, been forced to use a rotation of just eight players. Vucevic has carried the load offensively, playing the best basketball of his career on a lackluster, under-manned Orlando team.
It is no surprise other teams are reportedly showing interest in acquiring the big man. The Athletic’s Shams Charania reports that both the Boston Celtics and Charlotte Hornets would like to trade for Vucevic, who is now in his ninth year with the Magic. The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor has also added the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs to that list.
The sharks are circling as teams are trying to get the Magic to sell and hit the reset button. The Magic are at least listening, even if every report has suggested the Magic will be asking for a lot to budge off Vucevic.
The NBA trade deadline is approaching and the Orlando Magic are listening to every offer, including on their big man, Nikola Vucevic. While they are surely asking a lot, there are a few deals that could make sense.
Trading the team’s first All-Star since Dwight Howard would be a monumental decision for the front office to make and would signal a significant change in strategy.
Since Jeff Weltman’s appointment as president of basketball operations, there has been little activity in the trade market so it would certainly come as a surprise to see the team’s best player exit.
Vucevic’s importance to Orlando is undeniable, but in the team’s current predicament there is no player who can be considered completely untouchable. The Magic front office must listen to any interest in its players, even if the proposals turn out not to be right for the team.
At this point, Evan Fournier is probably the only player that the franchise should be actively shopping due to his contract expiring at the end of the season.
The team is heading toward change. But there is no need to rush into anything at this point especially when it comes to the only All-Star on the roster.
That being said, there could be some intriguing offers on the table which see Vucevic move on — particularly involving the Hornets and Spurs. Both teams have plenty to tempt the Magic into a blockbuster trade, unlike the Celtics and Heat who would likely list the players it would take to do a deal as untradeable.
Orlando should rightfully be demanding a lot in any Vucevic trade scenario and they are reportedly doing so, with Kevin O’Connor also stating that “the price would be high” for the 30-year-old.
Here’s four hypothetical deals that should at least get the front office listening…