Nikola Vucevic (Photo : Getty Images)
Nikola Vucevic is likely to lose his starting role with the Orlando Magic, and while the team has yet to discuss any trade involving the center, moving him could be an option to consider this season.
Rumors about the Magic trading Vucevic have surfaced after Orlando acquired Serge Ibaka form the OKC Thunder and signed Bismack Biyombo to a hefty contract. With the frontcourt suddenly crowded, Vucevic is becoming the odd man out in Orlando as many believe Biyombo's four-year $72 million deal justifies his role of being a starter.
Finding teams that would have interest in Vucevic won't be too difficult for the Magic, considering another solid numbers for the 25-year-old center last season, averaging 18.2 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. One potential destination for Vucevic is the Miami Heat, who could be looking for an alternative if Chris Bosh isn't cleared to play for the 2016-2017 NBA regular season.
Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel explored the possibility of the Heat trading for Vucevic. While Winderman did argue that it is unlikely for Miami to trade for a player like Vucevic at this point, it is a deal the Heat could consider depending on Bosh's immediate future with the team and Vucevic's fit playing alongside Hassan Whiteside.
"As for Vucevic, while he does fit the Heat mold of a player who has thrived against the Heat, he also is under a contract that pays $11.8 million this season, with two more seasons to follow. I doubt a team that wasn't anxious to go with a third season for Dwyane Wade would want to go that deep with any player at this stage," Winderman wrote.
"Now, if you're asking whether the Heat would trade Tyler Johnson and another salary that fits (which could become available Dec. 15), that's another story. But that's only if there is a definitive sense on what will happen with Chris Bosh, and whether Vucevic can work alongside Hassan Whiteside."
Winderman noted on another story that the Heat has been "non-committal" to Bosh's return, sparking speculations about the possibility of orchestrating a plan B if the All-Star forward won't stage any NBA comeback soon.
Meanwhile, the Heat have Josh McRoberts, Udonis Haslem, Derrick Williams and Willie Reed as rotational pieces at the frontcourt, but it is unlikely for the any of the mentioned players to consistently contribute and presumptively fill the void Bosh would leave. Adding Vucevic would give the Heat another scoring big man who could slide in at the four spot or play as the second option at the center position.
However, the Heat do not have any tradable assets at this point as newly signed players aren't eligible to get traded until December. Nevertheless, any potential deal should probably involve a backcourt piece as the Magic lack a reliable guard to run Frank Vogel's offense.
The Magic may not be in any rush to ship Vucevic, and would probably see first how he fits in the team's revamped roster and gauge his trade value in the market. But if the Heat won't expect Bosh to return in the foreseeable future, Vucevic should be perfect alternative.
