Nikola Vucevic's reunion with the Orlando Magic has a chance to be very beneficial for both parties, even if it only lasts for one season.
The Orlando Magic did not have the financial liberty to make a lot of moves this offseason, but they made an impactful one in reuniting with big man Nikola Vucevic.
On July 1, Vucevic signed a one-year, $3.9 million deal to return to Orlando, the place where he spent nearly eight full years of his NBA career. When Vucevic began his first tenure with the Magic in 2012, things were much different for both him and the team.
The Dwight Howard era was over, and the Magic fell into an ugly 20-win season after going 37-29 in the truncated 2011-12 campaign due to the NBA lockout. That season, they went to the playoffs for the sixth time in a row.
Vucevic came to Orlando as a 22-year-old with just one season of NBA competition under his belt, and for nearly a decade, he would be the bright spot during a lot of dark days for the organization.
During Vucevic’s time with the Magic, they made it to the playoffs only twice and posted a winning record just once. In six of those seasons, which included the 2020-21 campaign when Vucevic was traded to the Chicago Bulls, Orlando won less than 30 games.
However, Vucevic became a two-time All-Star during that period and was often the best player on the floor. He was not Howard, and he certainly was not Shaquille O’Neal, but he gave the fans someone to cheer for and look forward to.
Now, he has a chance to be even more impactful.
The Magic welcome Vucevic back to a much different space and a different team, which incites more optimism and potential. Orlando has made it to the playoffs in each of the last three seasons, and its young core of players can benefit from Vucevic’s veteran leadership.
At 35 years old, Vucevic is not the player he once was, but at his price point, he is a clear upgrade for a bench unit that really needs it. Last season, between stints with the Bulls and the Boston Celtics, Vucevic averaged 15.1 points and 8.4 rebounds while nearly shooting 37% from 3-point range.
That type of production as a floor spacer and a rebounder is tangible evidence of what Vucevic can offer, and his leadership and presence will add an intangible element of equal importance. It was clear from his introductory press conference that Vucevic wants to be in Orlando, and this time, he will be contributing to a playoff team instead of trudging through a years-long rebuild.
