With the NBA All-Star Break behind us, it’s time to start looking at the next milestone on the league calendar. The second half of the 2020-21 campaign kicks off tonight leaving fans ready for the March 25th trade deadline. One of the biggest NBA rumors being discussed around the league is a potential trade for All-Star Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic.
Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer recently reported that four teams have expressed serious interest in acquiring the two-time All-Star. Those teams include the Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs, Boston Celtics, and Charlotte Hornets. There’s some doubt that the Magic are willing to move off of Vucevic, who is tied up under favorable contracts for the next two seasons. But, with the Magic sitting 14th in the Eastern Conference at 13-23, a trade return for Vucevic offers Orlando a quicker road to re-build.
The Celtics are one of four teams rumored to be interested in Nikola Vucevic. https://t.co/aRB0MTgyk0
— NESN (@NESN) March 8, 2021
NBA Rumors: Landing Spots for Nikola Vucevic
Boston Celtics – Favorites to Land Nikola Vucevic
Of the teams to express significant interest in Vucevic, the Celtics should be considered the favorites to land this deal. Currently, Boston sits as the team with the most to gain by adding an All-Star caliber center who can score on all three levels. Despite an uneven start, the Celtics are fourth in the Eastern Conference at 19-17. With the stellar play from Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, along with the talent of the supporting cast, many believe this team should be further along. This team was on the short-list of NBA Finals favorites to begin the season, after all.
Scoring has been a problem for Boston and this team has clearly been missing a big man that offers a dynamic scoring threat. Vucevic fits in perfectly with this roster. The two-time All-Star would quickly slide into the starting center role to fill the holes left by Tristan Thompson and Daniel Theis. Both Thompson and Theis are slightly undersized for the center position and don’t possess the scoring punch that Vucevic offers. As a result, Boston is forced to play smaller lineups
Thompson and Theis combine to average just 17.2 points per contest in 45.1 minutes of action. Vucevic is equally as capable in terms of defense and rebounding and offers an immediate offensive boost. Boston’s current duo of bigs possesses almost zero outside shooting threat, shooting less than 80 combined three-point attempts this season. On the other hand, Vucevic attempts more than six three-pointers per game, a total of 233 attempts, and hits better than 40 percent of these shots.
Vucevic is scoring 24.6 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game this season. It’s been all about the lack of offense for Boston.
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Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte has exceeded everyone’s expectations this season with a 17-18 overall record that ranks seventh in the East. LaMelo Ball has emerged as Rookie of the Year favorite and Gordon Hayward appears back to his All-Star level of play. With such a promising start, it’s possible the Hornets emerge as buyers during the trade deadline.
This is an interesting destination for Vucevic. Similar to Boston, the 30-year-old offensive-minded big fits a big need for the Hornets. But, there’s no doubt that Orlando will require a large return for their two-time All-Star. With Vucevic now in his 30’s, there’s a serious question about how many seasons he has left in his prime. Adding Vucevic could boost the Hornets to a lock for the playoffs, but doesn’t catapult this team to championship status. Perhaps, Michael Jordan and his front office value giving their young star Ball an early taste of playoff basketball. Still, this trade makes the Hornets better in the short-term but doesn’t add a clear-cut path in the long-term.
The Hornets would prefer to move off of current starting center Cody Zeller in this deal, but it’s unlikely the Magic are willing to make that swap. Instead, the Hornets could offer young talents Terry Rozier, Miles Bridges, or P.J. Washington in this deal. Orlando could easily ask for all three as part of a deal. Rozier has taken a huge step forward thanks to significant playing time in Charlotte. The 26-year-old is averaging 20.5 points per game while both Bridges and Washington remain valuable young prospects with less than three years of NBA experience.
San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio currently sits seventh in the Western Conference with an 18-14 overall record. It’s clear this team has talent, but LaMarcus Aldridge is showing his age more than ever before. This team, led by DeMar DeRozan and the lethal young guard combo of Dejounte Murray and Derrick White, is lacking a serious punch at center.
Based solely on the stats, it’s pretty remarkable that San Antonio currently sits in playoff contention. Credit is due for Head Coach Gregg Popovich, but this team isn’t particularly stellar in one area. San Antonio scores 111 points per game, which ranks 22nd in the league while giving up 48.4 points in the paint, which ranks 21st. The defense has been slightly above-average with San Antonio ranking ninth in defensive rating (109.7). Regardless, nothing about this team wows you.
Vucevic adds that much-needed offensive firepower, but the Spurs would have to give up some young talent in order to do so. The goal for San Antonio is to unload Aldridge in this deal. Aldridge’s contract isn’t attractive but set to expire at the end of this season. It’s likely that Orlando would want a return of names including Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Lonnie Walker, draft picks, or some combination of these assets.
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It’s quite unclear if San Antonio is willing to move off any of these pieces. Considering what Orlando will require in return, this potential deal doesn’t boost the Spurs into immediate championship contention.
Miami Heat – Not a Likely Landing Spot for Nikola Vucevic
After a disappointing start, much in part to the temporary absence of Jimmy Butler due to COVID-19, the Heat have finally turned a corner. Miami owns an 18-18 record, sitting sixth in the Eastern Conference, winning seven of their last eight before the All-Star break. Miami has been linked to these Vucevic trade rumors, but this seems like the least likely destination.
The Heat already have its dynamic, young, talented center to lead the franchise in Bam Adebayo. Adebayo doesn’t offer a three-point shooting threat as Vucevic does, but he’s more than capable on the offensive end, especially as a lob-threat. Yes, Duncan Robinson, Tyler Herro, and Kelly Olynyk have not been knocking down three-pointers at the same clip as last season, but this team is still incredibly deep with shooters.
Vucevic offers better offensive spacing than Abedbayo does in this same lineup, but it’s hard to envision how Vucevic fits in with this roster. This is working under the assumption that the Heat wouldn’t give up Adebayo to land Vucevic via trade. And the other options? It’s hard to imagine Miami moving off any of its Eastern Conference Championship pieces from last year in Herro, Robinson, or even Kendrick Nunn. The Nikola Vucevic-Heat NBA rumors are the least likely landing spot for this two-time All-Star.
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