Hoops Habit
Fansided

5 NBA reunions that need to happen

By Holden Walter-Warner

CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 25: Derrick Rose #1 of the Chicago Bulls drives against Mike Conley #11 of the Memphis Grizzlies at the United Center on March 25, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls defeated the Grizzlies 99-96. 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 Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 25: Derrick Rose #1 of the Chicago Bulls drives against Mike Conley #11 of the Memphis Grizzlies at the United Center on March 25, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls defeated the Grizzlies 99-96. 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 Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
Nikola Vucevic  (Photo by Harry Aaron/Getty Images)
Nikola Vucevic  (Photo by Harry Aaron/Getty Images) /

5. Nikola Vucevic to Orlando

The Orlando Magic are a crew of young players determined to punch above their weight. They may soon be able to do so, considering the strong play of rookie Paolo Banchero. Could they bring Nikola Vucevic back into the fold?

The Swiss center was a first-round draft pick out of USC by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2011 but was dealt to the Magic after his rookie season in the trade that sent Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers. Vucevic spent the next eight years and change near Disney World.

Following in Howard’s Superman-sized footprint was no easy task, but Vucevic was up for it. He quickly distinguished himself as a rebounding and scoring machine for the Magic, becoming the biggest bright spot for some moribund Magic squads, a morass the franchise is still pulling itself out of today.

Vucevic’s time with Orlando came to an end in March 2021, when the Magic dealt the big man to the Chicago Bulls in a deal that netted Orlando Wendell Carter Jr., among others. The two-time All-Star has been with the franchise since, but his $100 million extension expires at the end of the year.

Vucevic left the Magic with his name firmly entrenched toward the top of the record books in several categories. He was first in field goals made, second in rebounds, third in points and blocks, and fourth in games played. He was a legend who never really got enough praise.

Vucevic recently fed into the reunion buzz himself, telling the Sixth Man Show that he’d be interested in “one last year” in Orlando (h/t SLAM). Perhaps that year could be on the horizon soon.

Home/Charlotte Hornets