Nik Vucevic and Magic Agree to New Contract: Latest Details, Comments, Reaction
Entering his fourth year in the NBA, center Nikola Vucevic has reportedly come to terms with the Orlando Magic on a contract extension that will run through the 2018-19 season.
The Orlando Sentinel's Josh Robbins broke the news, while Yahoo Sports' Marc J. Spears added details of the extension:
Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today provides more contract details:
Vucevic has earned the raise. In two seasons with the Magic since being shipped over from Philadelphia, the USC product has been a double-double machine, averaging 13.6 points and 11.5 rebounds per contest. His player efficiency rating has risen every year he has been in the league, and on the cusp of his age-24 season, there is still room for him to continue to improve.
Head coach Jacque Vaughn recently talked about that improvement, via Robbins:
"I think Nik is growing up. He's maturing. He's older. He's wiser. He's played these guys more than a few times now, and that's learning the league. You learn your position. You're going to face these guys, hopefully, for a long time.
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An average salary of $13.5 million per year may feel steep—that's how much Al Jefferson will make in 2014-15—but less-talented (and older) players have been given more.
Remember, true seven-foot centers as consistent and as offensively adept as Vucevic are difficult to find, and the salary cap is set to increase with the league's new television deal.
Bleacher Report's Ethan Norof praised Vucevic's new pact:
The Magic have suffered through two straight seasons with a winning percentage under .300. But with one of the most productive centers in the league locked up for five years and one of the most tantalizing young duos—Elfrid Payton and Victor Oladipo—in the backcourt, Orlando fans have reason for optimism.
