Nikola Vucevic Trade Rumors: 5 Teams That Should Trade For Magic C
Nikola Vucevic trade rumors haven’t died down, so which teams should pick up the phone if the Orlando Magic make him available? Here are five options.
The Orlando Magic did what they could to mitigate their losses with a Serge Ibaka trade on Tuesday, but with the 2017 NBA Trade Deadline less than a week away, they may not be done making moves.
Ibaka was a no-brainer deal, since he was never going to re-sign with a 21-37 team in free agency this summer. But as general manager Rob Hennigan has flushed assets down the toilet over and over again, there’s hardly anyone on the Magic’s roster who’s safe.
We’ve already heard Elfrid Payton‘s name come up in the past few months, but for today, we’ll keep the focus in the frontcourt with another player rumored to be on Orlando’s trade block: Nikola Vucevic.
Nikola Vucevic trade rumors date back to December, when an ESPN podcast with Zach Lowe and Brian Windhorst named Payton and Vucci Mane as two possible trade candidates for the Magic. Back then, Orlando was still within reach of a playoff spot, so it’s possible the team’s focus has shifted from the postseason to the inevitable rebuild that’s coming.
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If that’s the case, Payton — who has played much better over the last few weeks despite still being relegated to bench duty — might be safe. But what of the 26-year-old Vucevic, who still has $25 million and two years left on his contract after this season?
Even with Ibaka gone, Orlando’s frontcourt is still a bit crowded. Aaron Gordon needs to play his true position at the 4, while the Magic just signed center Bismack Biyombo to a massive four-year, $72 million contract last summer. That could leave Vucevic as the odd man out, unless he’s more willing to either embrace shared minutes at the 5 or accept a bench role.
If the Magic aren’t done making moves, which teams might be interested in Vucevic’s 13.9 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.0 blocks per game, along with his defensive flaws? Here’s a look at five potential Nikola Vucevic trades and why they might fall through.