The Orlando Magic are bringing back one of their franchise legends. They have signed two-time All-Star Nikola Vučević to a one-year, $3.9 million contract.
How We Got Here:
Vučević first arrived in Orlando before the 2012-13 season as part of the blockbuster trade that sent Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers. At the time, few expected the young center to become the face of the franchise for nearly a decade. Vučević averaged 17.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists across 591 games while earning two NBA All-Star selections. He became Orlando’s all-time leader in field goals made and helped guide the Magic back to the playoffs in 2019 and 2020.
Now the Orlando Magic are looking to add a scoring punch off the bench after a rough 2025 season. They weren’t able to put things together during the regular season and were mired in questions about their young core. When the playoffs came along, they blew a 3-1 lead to the Detroit Pistons, which resulted in their coach getting fired.
His Impact:
He will be the backup to Wendell Carter Jr., who was part of the four-team trade that sent Vucevic to the Magic back in 2012. Now he will be able to bring a good veteran presence to the bench, which has been lacking over the past couple of seasons. His 15.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists will be able to replace Mo Wagner nicely.
The fact that the Magic can get him on a veteran minimum salary is a major plus. That is because this move saves them money compared to signing a younger player. That means that they can go out and pursue other free agents to improve the roster around their star players.
This is a move that brings Vučević full circle. It’ll be interesting to see how this impacts the team and their chances of being competitive in the Eastern Conference. They are undergoing some major changes, which means Vučević will have to step up and be a contributor for them.
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