The Nikola Vucevic trade rumor has become a rite of passage every February. It has been something that has surrounded him for several years. Really since he signed his bargain of an extension in 2015, it felt like the Orlando Magic were waiting for the opportunity to trade him.
Even as he put in yeoman’s work as the best scorer and offensive option on a team trying to find its way.
Orlando likely had no illusion about what Vucevic was even when they acquired him. In fact, the Magic have overtly made moves to replace him.