The Orlando Magic are excited to reunite with Nikola Vucevic.
The Orlando Magic did what they could during free agency, given the financial constraints of the first apron that they had to endure.
The Magic signed free agent center Nikola Vucevic, re-signed guard Jevon Carter and signed forward Jonathan Isaac after cutting him. The signing of Vucevic was the best of the three, as it reunites Vucevic with the Magic after he spent nearly nine seasons with the organization.
Recently, Keith Smith of Spotrac spoke with executives around the Magic’s front office who remained anonymous. Regarding Vucevic, there seems to be a great deal of respect and admiration between him and the team.
One executive made it clear that Vucevic planned on making Orlando home following the end of his career, but the belief within the organization is that Vucevic is still capable of playing high-level basketball.
Last season, Vucevic averaged 15.1 points and 8.4 rebounds in 64 games between the Chicago Bulls and the Boston Celtics. That level of production will be very beneficial for the Magic, who had a very underwhelming bench last season.
On a recent episode of the Full Court Magic Podcast, I discussed the return of Vucevic to Orlando and what it means for him and the team:
"Vucevic has talked before about, you know, his love for Orlando.I believe he still owns a home in the area. And so, you know, there was always this kind of good relationship and good foundation that remained between the two parties, even when Vucevic was traded to Chicago, you know. And so last season, you know, he played in 48 games for the Bulls, averaged 16.9 points and nine rebounds per game.
And then he was traded to the Boston Celtics, where his numbers fell off a bit, you know, only appeared in 16 games, started one. And now he makes his way back to the Magic on, I believe it's a $3.9 million deal. And so, you know, this is one of those, you know, value finds for the Magic. And they not only reunite with an important player in franchise history, but they also address depth at the center position. And they get a guy who is still very capable of producing a double-double, you know, despite being 35 years old, despite having some miles on his body and in his career.
This is still a very productive player who, according to Shams Charania of ESPN, passed up more lucrative offers to return to Orlando. So that was a good investment by the front office and Jeff Weltman. I released some trade grades yesterday. I gave this one an A, not just for the nostalgia of it, but for getting a really reliable backup center, especially now that Moe Wagner has departed as a free agent and signed a two-year $19 million deal with the Brooklyn Nets."
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