Orlando Magic Sign Nikola Vucevic To $53 Million Contract Extension
By Sam Richmond
The Orlando Magic agreed to terms on a $53 million contract extension with Nikola Vucevic on Tuesday.
The Orlando Magic have made a sizable commitment to their 23-year-old center, Nikola Vucevic.
Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports is reporting that the team agreed to terms on a $53 million contract extension with Vucevic on Tuesday.
The Orlando Sentinel’s Josh Robbins, who was the first to break that a deal was imminent Tuesday, reports that the scarcity of skilled centers helped Vucevic in contract negotiations.
"In contract negotiations over the last several weeks, Vucevic no doubt benefitted from the fact that there are few top-flight centers in the NBA these days. If you apply the law of supply-and-demand to players at the center position, it’s a seller’s market."
$53 million is likely too much for Vucevic’s services, but it’s hard to fault the Magic for wanting to lock in one of their top talents for years to come.
Vucevic averaged 14.2 points, 11.0 rebounds and .8 blocks per game this past season and averaged 13.1 points and 11.9 rebounds per games in 2012-13. That’s fantastic production from a 23-year-old, who still has room to improve. The Magic are certainly banking on Vucevic getting better, given the $53 million contract.
The Philadelphia 76ers selected Vucevic with the No. 16 pick of the 2011 NBA Draft.