No. 2 – Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic
After the Orlando Magic traded away Dwight Howard ahead of the 2012-13 NBA season, they have been trying to rebuild this team into a legit contender in the Eastern Conference, but have not had much success over the years. Since drafting Howard No. 1 overall in 2004, the Magic have had 0 players that they drafted go on to be All-Stars and have found zero success year after year while Nikola Vucevic earned just a single nod.
Sure, they have made the playoffs each of the last two seasons, but were heavy underdogs in each matchup and lost in the first-round 4-1 in back-to-back years. With major injury concerns on this roster and an overall lack of talent, the Orlando Magic have their backs up against the wall and could be facing yet another rebuild by trading someone like Nikola Vucevic.
After starting the season 4-0, Orlando is now 6-8 and is currently dealing with some major injuries. Johnathan Isaac entered the year out for the season as he recovers from a torn ACL, but they are now without Markelle Fultz for the season, as he tore his ACL, and are without rookie Chuma Okeke, who is expected to miss several more weeks with a bone bruise in his knee.
With everything going on with the Magic, Nikola Vucevic has not missed a beat and still looks like an All-Star level center. He has been dominant this year and is having one of the best years of his career, averaging 22.9 points, 11.0 rebounds and shooting 52% from the floor, 42.5% from three-point range.
Nikola Vucevic’s value is at an all-time high right now and with him being 30-years old, the Magic could possibly look to trade their star big man away for a massive haul of draft picks and young talent. Right now, the Magic are not an organization who can attract big name free agents and even at full strength, are not really a contender in the Eastern Conference.
Could they make the playoffs at full strength? Most likely, but at the end of the day, what is the point of making the playoffs year-in and year-out if you are just going to lose in the first round?
The Magic have a tough decision to make when it comes to some of their veteran talent, especially Nikola Vucevic, who is under contract through the 2022-23 season. Do the Magic really want to pay him this much money and keep him on their roster while they have no shot at winning?
Trading away Nikola Vucevic would definitely be something to think about for the Orlando front-office, especially since they could receive quite a return for a player of his caliber. This situation is definitely something to keep an eye on not only throughout this season but heading into next offseason.
