NBA Trade Grades: Carter Jr. headlines deal for Nikola Vucevic
By Luke Duffy
NBA trade grades for the Orlando Magic
The feeling around the Magic for some time now has been that this version of their young core might actually be something sustainable and worth building around. The only problem with that is that it is currently headlined by Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac, two players who will both be out for some time yet with ACL tears.
Around them, they have Chuma Okeke (who missed his rookie season with an ACL tear, nervous yet?) and Cole Anthony, who had looked impressive in his first season before being ruled out with a rib injury. Vucevic was the veteran presence who assured the team a double-double each night, and when everybody was healthy was the focal point of everything.
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Only health has gone against the Magic this season, and they have been decimated by injuries. So much so that despite the heroics of Vucevic, the organization are still going to have a high lottery pick this coming summer. The feeling with fans was that if a contender came looking for Vucevic, that they’d be ok with him leaving to try and win.
The Bulls are not a contender though, not yet, although they are clearly building something. Carter Jr. is the kind of player that the Magic were rumored to be interested in when he came out in 2018, but picked Mohamed Bamba instead (Bamba went sixth, Carter Jr. seventh to the Bulls). It may not quite feel like it now, but Carter Jr. should thrive under head coach Steve Clifford.
Defensively he will be a big help next to Isaac and Fultz in future, and it calls into question what exactly is going to happen to Bamba here. Porter Jr. is fine for now in that he can take some of the minutes created from Fournier’s departure. Long-term it is unsure if he has a future with the Magic, but he’ll get some run on a rebuilding team for now.
The two first round picks, while getting out from under Aminu as well (it just never happened for him after a meniscus tear), are a serious boost to the rebuilding efforts though. Although the Bulls are going to get better, those picks have value. Add it to the Magic’s youngsters, plus Carter Jr., and it is a solid haul. The only disappointment fans may feel now is not getting Lauri Markkanen back in the deal, as he is rumored to be available. For the Magic though, it’s a new era.