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NBA: Teams That Should Trade For Nikola Vucevic

By Maxwell Ogden

Apr 1, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Milwaukee won 113-110. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 1, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Milwaukee won 113-110. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /
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1. Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics found two gifted young big men in the NBA Draft in Guerschon Yabusele and Ante Zizic. Both cracked the Top 25 on my big board, and both could potentially start in the Association.

Enticing a possibility as that may be, the Celtics have the necessary assets to trade for a star-caliber center right now.

Vucevic has a strong enough post game for Brad Stevens to run some of his offense through the low-post area. He’s also an outstanding midrange jump shooter and passer, meaning he can help run the offense from the elbow.

Stevens loves versatile big men, and Vucevic has offensive versatility in spades—a match made in offensive heaven.

The defensive inconsistencies are problematic, but Stevens is a master at motivating his players on that end. If Stevens could get Vucevic—who averaged a career-high in blocks per game in 2015-16—to buy into the system, he could have a star on his hands.

It’s also worth noting that Vucevic held opponents below their average field goal percentage by 1.3 percent.

must read: High-profile players in dire need of a change of scenery

Vucevic would fit with any number of teams, but if Boston or Chicago can pull a trade off, it’d be a franchise-altering acquisition.