Subscribe
Follow Us
At the halfway point of the NBA season, the Orlando Magic find themselves at 13-23 and in 14th place in the Eastern Conference, just three games above the Detroit Pistons, who own the worst record in the conference.
The Magic made the playoffs in the last two seasons, but injuries to some of their key players have prevented them from remaining competitive so far. Nevertheless, the team’s only All-Star in center Nikola Vucevic remains happy with the team even as his name continues to be included in trade rumors.
Vucevic, who signed a four-year, $100 million extension back in 2019, says he wants to remain with the Magic and understands that the team will not be title contenders right away.
Article Continues Below
I think we are headed in the right direction, but we have lost two very important players — Markelle [Fultz] and J.I. [Jonathan Isaac] – for the season,” Vucevic told Mike Bianchi of Orlando Sentinel. “If we were healthier, our goals would be much different and we could achieve much more. But that’s just part of the journey. Unexpected things are going to happen.”
Even as his team continues to be hounded by injuries, the 30-year-old big man has turned in a brilliant season and was named an All-Star for the second time in his career. In 36 games, Vucevic has averaged a career-high 24.6 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and one steal while shooting 48.3% from the field and 41.2% from beyond the arc.
Vucevic's statement clearly indicates his desire to remain with the Magic and should slow down the trade rumors involving him, at least for the time being. Yet for all their struggles, Orlando is still only just four games out of the eighth spot in the conference. If Vucevic can pick up where he left off in the second half of the season, the team can still compete for a playoff spot like they did in the past couple of years.
