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Orlando Magic: 5 predictions for the 2018-19 NBA season

By Chris Murch

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 01: Head coach Steve Clifford of the Orlando Magic talks to Mohamed Bamba #5 during a timeout during the second quarter of the preseason game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on October 1, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 01: Head coach Steve Clifford of the Orlando Magic talks to Mohamed Bamba #5 during a timeout during the second quarter of the preseason game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on October 1, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

4. Nikola Vucevic gets traded at some point

The writing on the wall has been here for some time now. After rumors in 2016, 2017 and now this preseason that Vucevic was on the trading block, the Magic are finally in a good position to trade the 29-year-old Montenegrin. With the team picking center Mohamed Bamba out of the University of Texas with the sixth pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, they now have a formidable future center who has all the potential in the world to be a future star.

While there were early reports this summer about the Magic’s intention to have Vucevic open to trade talks, Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman told Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel last week:

"“We have no designs on trading anyone right now. That’s something that we’ll worry about later. [Vucevic] is a high-quality player and an even higher-quality person. He’s very valuable to our team today, and he’s very valuable to what we want to be about going forward. So, I wouldn’t even entertain those thoughts yet.”"

While these are strong words from the man who controls a lot of the movement of his players, Weltman might just be postulating here. The return on a trade involving Vucevic could be nice and if Bamba stays healthy in his rookie season and has immediate impact, how could you not start him over Vucevic? While Vucevic would be great off the bench, is there any reason to keep him if the future is the goal and he isn’t a focal point?

While Vucevic is still a threat to score 25 every night, his defense leaves a lot to the imagination and his advanced stats show that he might not be the best option at the 5 night in and night out.

This prediction could especially come to fruition if the Magic struggle early on and the playoffs aren’t in sight. Vucevic doesn’t look to be apart of their future, especially given his expiring contract. It’s time to move on and develop other young bigs within the organization.

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