The Magic would like to find a taker for center Nikola Vucevic, according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN. Appearing on a podcast with Zach Lowe, Windhorst said Orlando is hoping to make major changes that may also include point guard Elfrid Payton.
After trading for power forward Serge Ibaka over the summer and signing center Bismack Biyombo, the Magic are off to a disappointing 14-18 start. Coach Frank Vogel made some lineup changes last month that included sending Vucevic to the bench. Vucevic, who protested the demotion, is now averaging 27.8 minutes per night, the fewest in his five years in Orlando. His scoring has dropped dramatically, from 18.2 points per game a year ago to 12.8 this season.
Vucevic signed a four-year extension in 2014 and still has two more seasons and $25MM left on his contract.
The Magic are also “down” on Payton, Windhorst adds. The third-year point guard lost his starting job to D.J. Augustin in the November shakeup. Payton is still on his rookie contract and is under team control through the 2017/18 season.
Windhorst says Payton caused a lot of friction between the Orlando front office, which traded two first-round picks to acquire him, and former coach Scott Skiles, who didn’t believe he was good enough to play. The reporter adds that the Magic could be a potential destination for Goran Dragic if the Heat decide to move him.
Rockets would be an excellent fit for Nikola. Peprose trade Patrick Braverly and Nene Sam Decker in it exchange for Nikola vucevic and Elfrid Payton. Now that I think of it Payton would fit into the Mik D’antoni System as well.
This is a joke by Windhurst the joke reporter! The Magic need to trade worthless Jeff Green and DJ and maybe Biz for a solid scorer period! Not Rudy Gay the cancer either! Then put AGordon back at the 4 with Vuc or Biz starting C and change in lineup is SF where the scoring sf could go for Green and DJ or Biz period! We invested 2 much in Payton and he has started playing good! Vuc needs to stay and insted get rid of Ibaka if he will leave or Biz who is so average! Go get Paul George with Ibaka and Green and DJ real simple! Not hard! But trade 2 guys that are playing the best? Get real! AGordon needs more mins in the post not shooting 3s and very simple fix! Green need to go so does the worst starting pg in nba DJ!
Did you just say give up Ibaka, Green and DJ for Paul George? One of the best players in the league? And is under control until 2019? Those three players do not even get the phone answered by the Pacers. You can’t honestly be serious? Those three might might get you a player of Rudy Gay talent but does not even slightly get you close for a Paul George. Plus why would the pacers do that? Ibaka at this point is not an upgrade over Young or Turner. And they don’t need another back up PG. so you think they would give up a top ten player for a second string center, a second maybe 3rd string PG and a average SF? Gotcha.
LMAO!!! The anger is real with this dude.
The rockets would be insane to give up Beverley even tho I like Nikola a lot to much money to invest in a center as well right now for the rockets
Would him on the Lakers
With the new collective bargaining agreement deal and money continuing to go up next year I don’t see why that would be the problem.
Ya I never thought of that but I love Beverley and seller is a nice piece of the bench
Guys get a clue PGeorge wants out of Indy and lives Vogel! Det is giving up way less for him with THarris and SJ and we give them a solid stretch 4 with Ibaka and DJ and Green as even the money out and they get at least a good player for PG! Works cery easy! Not trade Vuc who is the only guy doing anything all yr and EP is starting to play well in Vogel system! And wtf do they not play Hezonja if they want to trade him? Play him he might be good if he has a good game and builds off of it! Then you have Vuch and PG and AG and Fournier and EP and they could add a bench vet! Not really that hard! They keep saying they want playoffs well this is a way to be a top 4 seed every yr! We have had a tough stretch and next 6 games are not easy so why not and if not PG who will be traded then someone with equal value! Not trash Rudy Gay? That is Windhurts the clown speaking clown talk as always!
The others don’t need to get a clue, you may need to though. You aren’t getting Paul George with a package that includes DJ and Green….not in a million years!!
I’m impressed you guys can even decipher what he’s saying
Trade Bench Guys if in it but if out of it Trade Starters.
I want to see Vucevic in a Celtics uni. Does Zeller and a Celtics first in 2018 get it done?
Another team that wants to trade their bad defensive center.
Bulls take Nikola vuc for rondo nuggets second rounder