Orlando Magic: 3 reasons not to trade Nikola Vucevic

The career of All-Star center Nikola Vucevic has been a long one full of twists and turns with the Orlando Magic. From the European big thrown into the Dwight Howard deal, to a guy who was a painfully bad defender. All the way through blaming him for the franchise’s shortcomings, calling him an empty stats player and finally getting the credit he deserves. It has been some journey.

One that for the first time looks like it could potentially end on the right terms. Calls for Vucevic to be traded were nothing new back when he was trying to play next to Bismack Biyombo and Serge Ibaka (seriously, how did anybody think that was a good idea?), because he came to represent the failings of an era of Magic basketball best forgotten about.

Then there were fans who wanted him gone because it was clear the organization could only go so far with Vucevic as their best player. That is still true, but a combination of continuous improvement from Vucevic and a better supporting cast means that the ceiling is higher than what we once believed it was.

The Orlando Magic are nearing a pivotal point in their development, but it does not have to include trading All-Star Nikola Vucevic

Vucevic still couldn’t be the best player on a title team, but at this point, he could be number two on a winner, and that did not look likely as recently as two years ago. Trading him now, then, would be so he could go and play for a contender, having given everything to the Magic in his time in the pinstriped blue.

Then again, Vucevic has shown no indication to leave. He is 30, has a young family and makes a ton of money to play basketball in Florida. It could be a lot worse, and perhaps he knows this. The grass isn’t always greener if that means contending for championships. There’s a lot to be said for being settled and happy going to work each day. As trade rumors heat up, here are three reasons the Magic shouldn’t let Vucevic go anywhere.