Following a 6-2 start this season, the Magic lost 21 of their last 28 games entering the All-Star break, fueling trade speculation about many of their most productive veterans, including standout center Nikola Vucevic. However, Vucevic doesn’t sound like someone who’s eager to leave Orlando, telling Mike Bianchi of The Orlando Sentinel that he loves being with the Magic.
“I’m happy where I am,” Vucevic said. “When I re-signed with the Magic, I knew it was going to be a process and I knew we weren’t going to turn into a championship team right away.
“… It’s unfortunate we’ve had all of these injuries. I think we are headed in the right direction, but we have lost two very important players — Markelle (Fultz) and J.I. (Jonathan Isaac) — for the season. If we were healthier, our goals would be much different and we could achieve much more. But that’s just part of the journey. Unexpected things are going to happen.”
Expressing loyalty to one’s team publicly isn’t uncommon even for a player who would prefer a change of scenery. But there’s reason to believe Vucevic’s stance is genuine. The All-Star center recently told Shams Charania of The Athletic that he likes the idea of building a legacy with one team, citing Damian Lillard‘s loyalty to the Trail Blazers as a point of reference.
Of course, Vucevic doesn’t have any veto power over a trade, so the Magic don’t need his approval to move him if they get an offer they like. And several teams – including the Celtics, Heat, Spurs, and Hornets – are said to have “significant” interest in the 30-year-old. Still, all indications are that Orlando isn’t looking to trade Vucevic and would require a massive return to consider making a deal.
For now, players like Evan Fournier, Aaron Gordon, and perhaps Terrence Ross appear to be more likely trade candidates than Vucevic, who is having a career year with 24.6 PPG and 11.6 RPG on .483/.412/.851 shooting. Vucevic is under contract through the 2022/23 season, so the Magic would have plenty of opportunities to consider moving the big man in future years if they hang onto him through the 2021 deadline.
I mean the man just wan2 ball
Vucevic would be such a perfect fit for the Heat these last 2-3 years, but I dont think that even happens in my dreams. Vucevic and Gary Clark for Herro, Olynyk, Meyers Leonard and the 2025 pick isnt good enough for Orlando, in my opinion, Especially now after yesterday’s situation (although the point would just be an expiring deal). Heat would need at least another asset
Spurs maybe aldridge, Derrick white, Keldon Johnson, and patty mills, maybe a pick as well for vucevic, gary Clark, and aminu?
No way Miami should give up Herro
For certain people, I’m cool with it. Maybe not in 2 years from now, assuming he improves, but right now, trying to win…ya
There is ZERO chance the Magic trade him to Miami…that would anger so many ORL fans + that package isn’t remotely close.
Spurs is possible but definitely not the package you proposed.
The most realistic proposals I’ve read today are:
[Suns] Ayton + salary filler for Vuc
[Pelicans] Ingram + salary filler for Vuc + T Ross + Aaron Gordon
Those are the type of deals that it would take for the Magic to consider moving Vuc.
That phoenix deal is a lot worse than the ones I mentioned and the New Orleans one would be too many moving parts, and super unlikely. I also did say I thought the Heat one was a little light, but that Spurs offer is pretty good. Orlando needs guard/wing help/more shooting. That being said, as I implied previously, I dont think they should necessarily move Vucevic. I’m just saying the likely deals, in the scenario where they do move him, wouldnt be too far off
Several players from the Magic attract many teams, yet they’re 13-23… what’s wrong? Why those good players can’t evolve into a good team?
Injuries.
Orlando has been playing without 4/5ths of their starting lineup for the majority of the season + they also lost 3/5ths of their second unit to injury for long stretches.
For several weeks, their starting PG (Fultz), back-up PG (Cole Anthony) and 3d string PG (Michael Carter-Williams) were all injured…and in what can only be described as LOL they signed PG Frank Jackson and within a week he also suffered season ending injury.
Cause they are young and never healthy at same time.
Vucevic just made all star team. He’s not going anywhere.
Happy to be apart of a mediocre organization with no plan…
I know it’s shocking, but some of these guys are happy to be paid 25M a year to hoop.
Well some are happy to make mediocre comments with no knowledge of ORL situation and they do it for free LMAO.
ORL has a plan, injuries just derailed the season.
It kind of matters that they’ve been without 7 of their top 10 rotation players majority of the season – including 4/5ths of their starting lineup and ALL THREE of their PG’s.
@magic. I get all that,
My point is some players like the city they play in, and they make good money. Not everyone has to chase a ring. Some just chase cash. Others chase quality of life. Nothing wrong with that.
Great for Vuc you just gotta respect a guy who places loyalty & happiness ahead of winning, anyone can win no merit in there, but achieving happiness in what you do, that is lasting, mon!
Only thing is that Vuc played his first season with PHI… so he ain’t gonna be just a one team player, but still very remarkable, right?
Just wish more stars would be happy with their lot in life & wouldn’t jump ship for something like winning a ring!
Anyone can win ?? You’re not really a sport’s fan are you. There is only one champion every yr. Just one
Does winning only count if team wins a championship? I’m pretty sure teams that get to 2nd round and beyond think of themselves as winning teams.
Players of Vuc’s caliber can win if they force their way out and hop onto a contender or take less money to hitch a ride w/super team.
This isn’t a new sentiment from Vucevic, he’s talked about loyalty to one franchise for years, long before he became an All-Star in his early days with ORL. He would often talk about how he admired Dirk and other athletes in other sports who stayed with one team – especially if they were playing for an underdog franchise (not big or glamour market).
If Vuc is your best player, you’re not going anywhere. He takes too many shots, hardly gets to the line and is a terrible rim protector
Vuc is one of the best shooters in the league, so you want him to shoot as much as possible.
Don’t go the line ’cause he plays outside the arc, that’s the shame of the stretch big.
Not his job to protect the rim, he’s the superstar of this team, centers shouldn’t anchor D’s, they must dominate in the O.
Smh…
Vucevic is one of the best perimeter shooting big men in the NBA…in fact he leads the entire NBA in 3PTers from above-the-break (aka creates a ton of space: driving, passing, cutting lanes for everyone else).
He’s also an excellent rebounder and is always at top of NBA in boxing out.
In addition, he’s a very high bbIQ player who just always makes the right reads and plays…and is an excellent passer, 2nd only to Jokic + is very good screen setter (usually ranks very high in screen assists).
He’s also a much better defender than you think. He’s not a highlight block type of rim protector, but he is always in the right spot, is big and long with 7’4 wingspan and doesn’t foul. Combined with his very good defensive rebounding, those are key factors in why ORL were top 10 defenses in prior two seasons.
Also, Vucevic has been above league average efficiency (TS%) in 2 of the last 3 seasons. His USG is deserved, + even when he doesn’t shoot he’s distorting the defense.
You know as soon as he got his annual Disney pass the trade rumors pop up. That’s gotta suck.