Nothing has changed for the Orlando Magic. They are still the NBA’s wildest roller coaster, still trying to trade for a wing, and still attempting to move Nikola Vucevic to make that happen.
From ESPN.com’s Marc Stein:
Orlando, according to league sources, remains focused on acquiring a proven scorer on the wing before the Feb. 23 trade deadline if the ever-elusive right deal presents itself. ?The corresponding expectation in league circles is that the Magic will try to move a big man to make that happen, with Nikola Vucevic continuing to rank as the most likely of Orlando’s bigs to depart because Serge Ibaka is headed for free agency in July (which complicates trading him) and with Bismack Biyombo only in the first year of a four-year, $68 million deal bound to put some teams off. Vucevic, by contrast, is a proven scorer and rebounder whose comparatively modest $11.8 million salary will presumably offset some of the defensive concerns in circulation. But sources say Boston’s talks with Orlando to date on the Vucevic front haven’t progressed past the exploratory stage
It’s unclear who or what the Magic may be able to net for Vucevic.
Flipping bigs who don’t shoot threes or excel while protecting the rim in exchange for a wing is one of the toughest tasks in the today’s trade climate. But Vucevic is making under $11.8 million this season and owed just $25 million over the next two years—an incredibly team-friendly contract this side of the salary-cap boon.
A deal with the Boston Celtics doesn’t make too much sense. Vucevic isn’t going to boost Boston’s rebounding totals, and he is an odd fit next to Al Horford, even though head coach Brad Stevens plays dual-big lineups with Amir Johnson and Horford. Besides, the Celtics aren’t about to send Avery Bradley, Jaylen Brown or Jae Crowder Orlando’s way unless they’re getting Serge Ibaka in return—and, even then, that’s a stretch. Unless they’re suddenly interested in future first-round picks, the Celtics remain a weird match.
The Portland Trail Blazers have been a popular theorized landing spot for Vucevic, but the possibility of trading for Allen Crabbe is probably moot. He has proved too valuable as a three-and-D contributor. Orlando, meanwhile, isn’t likely to have any interest in re-acquiring Maurice Harkless or taking on Evan Turner’s deal, and Al-Farouq Aminu won’t bring much to the offensive table for a team that can’t space the floor.
As these saga-types usually include unanticipated resolutions leading up to the trade deadline, we’ll have to wait and see if any deals materialize between now and Feb. 23. But don’t be surprised if the Magic are forced to stand relatively pat.
