Orlando Magic to begin extension talk with Nikola Vučević, Tobias Harris
Since the Orlando Magic parted ways with head coach Stan Van Gundy, general manager Otis Smith and center Dwight Howard, they have put winning on the back burner in favor of collecting young talent and “high character” players.
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Perhaps the two best players on their roster were acquired via trade. Center Nikola Vučević came over from the Philadelphia 76ers in the Howard trade after just one year in the league and the Magic have since watched him become a double-double machine. Just a few months later, they dealt guard J.J. Redick to the Milwaukee Bucks and received Harris, among other players, in return.
According to Josh Robbins of The Orlando Sentinel, the Magic will begin talking to both Vučević and Harris about an extension “around Labor Day.”
"The Orlando Magic likely will begin talking with Nik Vucevic’s representatives about a potential contract extension for the 23-year-old center around Labor Day, according to an industry source familiar with team officials’ thinking.The collective bargaining agreement allows teams to extend first-round picks’ rookie-scale contracts in the months leading up to the players’ fourth NBA season.Vucevic and forward Tobias Harris are eligible for extensions, and the Magic also are likely to discuss a possible extension with Harris’ agent around Labor Day.Any extension for either player must be reached before Nov. 1, per rules outlined in the collective bargaining agreement."
Vučević averaged 14.2 points, 11.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.8 blocks per game while shooting 50.7% from the field and 76.6% from the free throw line last season. Harris put up 14.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game while shooting 46.4% from the field, 25.4% from beyond the arc and 80.7% from the charity stripe.