JULY 6: The Magic have officially re-signed Vucevic, the team confirmed today in a press release. The club also announced its deals with Terrence Ross and Al-Farouq Aminu.
JUNE 29: All-Star center Nikola Vucevic will stay in Orlando on a four-year, $100MM contract, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic.
The deal will enable the Magic to keep one of the primary cogs of their playoff team in place for what should be the best part of his career. The 28-year-old posted career highs this season with 20.8 points and 12.0 rebounds per night. He also improved as a 3-point shooter, sinking 1.1 per game and hitting them at a .364 clip.
Vucevic was among the biggest bargains in the league this year, putting up All-Star numbers at a salary of $12.25MM. He has blossomed into an elite NBA center since being acquired from the Sixers in a four-team trade in 2012.
The signing is bad news for teams seeking center help in free agency, such as the Kings and Mavericks. The Celtics were also rumored to be interested in Vucevic before committing their cap room to Kemba Walker.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
I think we see why Horford feels he is worth 4/100…wow that is a lot of money for a good but not great player.
20/12/4/1/1
.518/.364/.789
I mean he is well worth 4/100M. Possibly more deserving as he has toiled in obscurity for years. Horford has typically had the luxury of better teammates. While effective without the ball, he is not the player Vucevic is. Also, Vucevic is 4 years younger than Horford. Not close to being comparable.
The two players games are completely different. Vuc is a primary option in an offense, taking on average 17 shots a game. Horford is a far superior defender but is a secondary offensive player, only taking 10 shots a game. If Horford was the primary option on a bad team he’d average 20 points a game as well.
Horford isn’t even a secondary option. And he isn’t that because he simply can’t. And what makes Horford the superior defender? As an individual. I get it, he was good in Boston’s system but what makes him better than Vucevic? I mean this past season Vucevic rated out better on defense. Horford has a difference of +2.4 actually giving points back defensively when he was on the court. Vucevic’s team was better on both ends with him on the court and came out to a +8.9 rating. Individually, Vucevic came out to 4.7 DWS and Horford was at 2.9. A few years ago Horford was better defensively. But he’s older and slower and likely not the defender he was. The numbers say as much.
Horford is 33 years old. He isn’t ever going to be anyone’s “primary option”. He gets all his points on jump shots in the flow of the offense at this point in his career.
Vucevic is better than Horford
@ stevep-4 …I don’t think I’ve ever read so much wrongness in one comment.
He’s also 5 years younger.
That’s more like it. (vs 4/90)
Best career move for him. He’s a 20/10 guy who may never be the traditional star but he’s the star Orlando needs to build credibility. Him along with Mo Bamba and Jon Isaac should scare teams for the next few years. If they can get Fultz to be a contributing piece, they may win a playoff series. Really the hope should be that they can find a taker for Mozgov or Gordon.
Side note. They own the rights to Fran Vazquez. Which is curious that any team has or wants the rights to a 36 year old center who never crossed the pond.
The Hawks still own the rights to a player from the Soviet Union that they drafted in 1986. Teams do not give up rights to players. They can still be traded in salary dump deals.
1986? Is that real,or sarcasm to make a point? I
Absolutely true. Augusto Binelli.
Vucevic is the reason Doug Collins should never coach again and why I think his commentary is trash.
Agreed. The game has changed; Collins never changed with it.
The national media never covered just how bad Collins screwed the sixers and dug them in a hole before abandoning them. It took a lot of work by Hinkie to dig them out.
All Star under Steve Clifford and rewarded handsomely. Doesn’t fit direction of today’s NBA as a half court player that will slow down the tempo of a team’s offense. One thing is certain here, Magic big against themselves. Sincerely doubt Vuc was going to find 4 Yrs $80M on the open market.
Interesting Rotation for Magic now, but leaves Mo Bamba’s role in question.
C: Vucevic
F: Isaac
F: Aaron Gordon
SG: Fournier
PG: Augustin
6. G Terrence Ross
7. G Markelle Fultz
8. F Farouq-Aminu
9. C Mo Bama
10. SF Wesley Iwundu
11. G Carter-Williams
12. F Chuma Okeke
Cliff is an excellent coach that should get that roster to 42 wins again at minimum & potentially in the 45-46 range.
Magic really bid against themselves to retain Vucevic but given their history of losing All Stars, maybe it made sense?
Centers are supposed to start the break, not run the break. This year’s round of 8 centers are Marc Gasol, Brook Lopez, Enes Kanter, Nikola Jokic, Aron Baynes, Joel Embiid, Clint Capela, and the GSW mix… Kevon Looney would be the only runner in this group but he only got parttime minutes.
Vucevic is a good 3pt shooter so in fact does “fit direction of today’s NBA”.
He signed for 4/100, not 4/80, and according to HR, they had to outbid 3 teams. The original announcement was for 4/90.
Players with PERs of 26 get attention, so-called modern or not.
And why people continue to believe in Fultz is beyond me.