In the end, change came with a bang for the Orlando Magic. So often the team that has stood pat at the trade deadline in recent seasons, in one swift move they have traded away franchise cornerstone Nikola Vucevic to the Chicago Bulls, in a deal headlined by young big Wendell Carter Jr. going in the other direction.
No sooner had the news broken, than Evan Fournier ended up being shipped to the Boston Celtics in exchange for a pair of second-round draft picks as well. Whatever about that deal, Fournier is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year, moving on from Vucevic is seismic. Here is the deal in full.
NBA trade grades: Nikola Vucevic and Wendell Carter Jr. swap teams.
Chicago gets:
- Nikola Vucevic
- Al-Farouq Aminu
Orlando gets:
- Wendell Carter Jr.
- Otto Porter Jr.
- Two first-round picks
There is a lot to digest here, particularly how and why Vucevic was moved in the first place. Just before the All-Star break, talks of a move to the Celtics came and went, and that was kind of it. The organization knew what they had in Vucevic, who is still under contract for two more years after this one, on a deal that declines financially. Without him, their floor looked a lot scarier.
Now the Magic are facing into that reality and in truth another rebuild of sorts. For the Bulls, they have been lurking for a little while now as a feisty franchise that could make some moves. Suddenly they have a pair of All-Stars, and they may not be done trying to add talent yet. Let’s break down the deal for both sides.