2021 NBA Trade Deadline: 5 big men teams should target

1. Nikola Vucevic

It’s fair to wonder if the Orlando Magic would be willing to move Nikola Vucevic, their best player by leaps and bounds, fresh off his second All-Star appearance. Vucevic isn’t getting any younger, though, and the Magic appear destined to miss the postseason this year.

Vucevic is having a career year across the board. His 24.6 points per game, 9.7 defensive rebounds per game, 85.1 free throw percentage, and 41.2 three-point percentage are all the best of his career, not to mention his 1.7 fouls per game are the lowest of his career.

Basically, Vucevic is the rare player who seems to be hitting their peak despite already being 30 years old. A team that chooses to acquire the big man from Switzerland will be banking on the fact that his surge this year isn’t just a flash in the pan.

Vucevic signed a four-year, $100 million extension with Orlando in the summer of 2019, meaning his deal will last as long as Horford’s, but with its structure, will actually cost slightly less at just $46 million over the final two years. That will make his market much more robust.

As with every big man on the market, expect the desperate Boston Celtics to at least put out some feelers. Two other teams that might be a good fit for Vucevic are the San Antonio Spurs and the Phoenix Suns.