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Orlando Magic big man Nikola Vucevic flew under the radar this season while being one of the best big men in the NBA and leading the Magic to the playoffs.
Vucevic had a spectacular year, averaging 20.8 points, 12 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.1 blocks and one steal over 31.4 minutes per game while shooting 51.8 percent from the floor, 36.4 percent from three-point range and 78.9 percent from the free-throw line.
He was also passable defensively.
Now, Vucevic is set to be an unrestricted free agent, and, once again, he is flying under the radar, as everyone seems to be talking about Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard and even guys like Kemba Walker and Klay Thompson will completely ignoring Vooch.
But here are three ideal free-agent landing spots for Vucevic this summer:
Let's say the Lakers miss out on guys like Irving and Walker and aren't able to trade for Anthony Davis. The next-best option would be Vucevic, who would provide Los Angeles with a dynamite frontcourt scorer and rebounder.
Let's face it: the Lakers need to land someone this offseason, or their plan will become an even more abject failure than it already is. Chances are, Leonard and Durant won't be joining LeBron James, and Walker and Irving might even elect to stay with their respective teams.
What then, will become of Los Angeles?
Well, the Lakers can try to trade for Davis, although the New Orleans Pelicans don't seem too keen on dealing with the Lakers. That would then bring Los Angeles to possibly the most underrated free agent on the market in Vucevic.
Sure, he would be looked at as a consolation prize, but Vucevic isn't Kevin Love. This is a guy who can actually play passable defense on on end of the floor while being a complete monster offensively.
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The most obvious need for the Nets is up front, where they completely lack any scoring. Jarrett Allen is a really nice player who can rebound and defend, but he leaves much to be desired offensively.
Vucevic would be a perfect pickup for Brooklyn and a terrific complement for D'Angelo Russell. That is, if the Nets are able to bring Russell back on a not-so-crazy deal.
That is where the only hangup is, as if Russell wants the $158 million max for the Nets, he would earn around $32 million annually, which may very well take Brooklyn out of the running for Vucevic or any other big-name free agents.
However, if the Nets are able to re-sign Russell on a good deal and leave themselves some room for Vucevic, he would be a terrific signing who would mesh incredibly well with Allen and would provide a deadly pick-and-roll/pick-and-pop partner with Russell, not to mention Caris LeVert and Spencer Dinwiddie.
1. Orlando Magic
Here is the thing with the Magic: they have a whole lot of big man depth behind Vucevic in the form of Aaron Gordon, Mohammed Bamba and Jonathan Isaac, so if Vooch leaves, it would free up a lot of playing time and clear a logjam.
But can the Magic really afford to let Vucevic walk?
This is a franchise that had been toiling since trading Dwight Howard during the summer of 2011. Now, for the first time in what seems like forever, Orlando actually has some hope, and Vucevic is a big part of that.
If the Magic do re-sign Vucevic, they won't really have any money to spend elsewhere, but would they really be in a better position of they allowed their All-Star big man to take his talents elsewhere?
Orlando seems confident it will re-sign Vooch, and all indications are that Vucevic wants to stay, so perhaps the 28-year-old won't even really be testing the free-agent market.
