NBA Rumors: Nikola Vucevic Leaving Orlando Magic for Denver Nuggets?

By Carlo Monzon
Nikola Vucevic
Nikola Vucevic with the Orlando Magic.  Wikimedia Commons/Mike

Currently, the Orlando Magic have a lot of big men on their roster. And, according to new rumors, the team might actually consider trading away Nikola Vucevic for the Denver Nuggets' Danilo Gallinari.

During the offseason, the Magic filled its roster with centers and power forward slots, creating a bit of an imbalance in their lineup. Aside from Vucevic, the team currently has Bismack Biyombo, Serge Ibaka and Aaron Gordon.

Before the arrival of Biyombo, Vucevic served as the starting center for Orlando. This means it is not yet clear if Vucevic will be pushed as a backup to make way for Biyombo. The same can be said for Gordon, who was the starting power forward before Orlando secured Ibaka from the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Ersan Ilyansova, Victor Oladipo and the draft rights for Domantas Sabonis.

As confirmed by Orland head coach Frank Vogel, Gordon will be moved to the small forward spot because of Ibaka.

"If Serge Ibaka weren't here, Aaron Gordon would be my power forward," he said according to ESPN. "But Serge is here. Aaron is going to be playing [small forward]. We are going to put the ball in his hands a lot. We're going to use him like Paul George."

With Gordon's position already secured, that leaves Vucevic as the only player in the team with an uncertain position.

Given his experience and veteran status, Biyombo will most likely get the starting spot. And, with the center position already filled up, Magic could consider trading away Vucevic. One team that could take on this deal are the Nuggets, according to Sportsrageous.

In exchange for Vucevic, Denver could give up Gallinari through a straight deal. Gallinari is capable of playing both small and power forward positions, which could greatly help in Orlando's plans for its current lineup. The Nuggets, on the other hand, need a reliable big man to complete its lineup.

A deal between the Nuggets and Magic for Vucevic could happen but won't probably go down in the near future. As noted by Real GM, Orlando is in no rush to get rid of Vucevic since the team is still analyzing if the current lineup has a void that the player could fill.

  • ‘Wang Mingdao’s Diary’ reproduction highlights complexities of contemporary Chinese Christianity

    On December 9, the China Graduate School of Theology (中国神学研究院) hosted a public lecture titled “A Courageous Witness in the Times—Launch of Wang Mingdao (王明道)’s Diary.” The lecture, themed “Faith Patterns in Beijing’s Christian Churches Through the Lens of Wang Mingdao’s Diary,” featured Dr. Ni Buxiao (倪步晓), Associate Director and Assistant Professor at the Christian Faith and Chinese Culture Research Center of Alliance Bible Seminary (建道神学院), as the keynote speaker.

  • Floating library ‘Doulos Hope’ arrives in Taiwan; spreading love and hope from a former cruise ship

    Doulos Hope, the international floating book fair ship, has returned to Taiwan and is now docked at Kaohsiung Port, open to the public from December 18, 2024, to January 12, 2025. Originally built in 1991 and renovated in 2022, the ship features over 2,000 books on various topics, including faith, science, and art. It is operated by a diverse crew of 140 volunteers from 25 countries, offering services such as education, healthcare, and community outreach. The ship's mission is to spread hope and

  • Chinese Online School of Theology publishes annual ministry report: Expanding Chinese theological education through new strategies

    In the 2023-2024 academic year, New York-based Chinese Online School of Theology (COST) has seen significant development in expanding its ministry in theological education and mission outreach. They have promoted a series of new events and projects to explore different strategies that expand theological education for Chinese ministers. The following are some highlights from the 2023-2024 annual report:

  • Dr. Fenggang Yang: How foreign forces transformed traditional Chinese legal systems

    In a recent lecture to Chinese Christians, scholar Dr. Fenggang Yang (杨凤岗) gave an in-depth analysis of the historical evolution and contemporary significance of the modern legal system in Chinese society. He explored the tensions and integrations between traditional law and modern rule of law, highlighting the distinctive characteristics of China’s traditional legal system and emphasizing the role of foreign influences in introducing modern legal practices into Chinese society.

Top Stories