NBA Trade Rumors: 3 teams that could target Nikola Vučević this month
It is fair to say that Nikola Vucevic is currently enjoying the best year of his career with the Orlando Magic. The Montenegrin is currently averaging 20.1 points, 12.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game and Vucevic has also managed to relegate the highly rated Mo Bamba to the bench.
Since being drafted 16th overall in the 2011 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, Vucevic has enjoyed patches of great form, although his career has always been held back by inconsistency. Nevertheless, in the last six months, Vucevic has added consistency to his game, and at the age of 28, the Center is now entering the prime years of his career.
In addition to this, Vucevic will also be entering free agency in the summer of 2019, and the former University of Southern California man continues to be linked with a move away from the Magic. With the Magic wanting to develop rookie Mo Bamba, Vucevic appears to have no long-term future in Orlando, and the franchise is believed to be open to trading the Slovenian away before the trade deadline. So, here we will look at three teams that should be interested in acquiring Vucevic this month.
#3 Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Laker is keen to add a second All-Star to play alongside LeBron James, however, with no All-Stars seemingly available this month, Vucevic could be the best option. There is no doubting that the 28-year-old would substantially improve the Lakers hopes of contending in the 2019 postseason, as the Orlando man's numbers are not far off from some of the best centers in the NBA.
Nevertheless, if the Lakers manage to acquire the Montenegrin, it would effectively be a six-month rental. The Los Angeles organization is desperate to acquire Anthony Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans this summer, so while the Lakers will be interested in Vucevic, it is highly unlikely that they will give up one of their 'young core'.