Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer reported on Monday that the Miami Heat is one of several teams that “expressed significant interest” in Nikola Vucevic. However, O’Connor added that frontline executives are skeptical that Orlando Magic will negotiate with Vucevic, as he has two more years on the contract.
Negotiating with Vucevic would solve a problem that has plagued Miami all year – the starting point of the court alongside Bam Adebayo. Unlike possible exchanges for strikers like Rudy Gay, Harrison Barnes or PJ Tucker, Vucevic would end up playing in the center and changing Adebayo to the four.
This season, Vucevic is shooting 41.2 percent in the 3-point range at 6.5 attempts per game. Considering that Duncan Robinson, Tyler Herro and Kelly Olynyk fell in their 3-point shots this year, Vucevic can help.
As O’Connor said, it is difficult to see how a negotiation takes place. How much would Miami be willing to part with to satisfy Magic? Vucevic was part of the All-Star team two of the past three seasons, so the Heat failed to catch him with only expiring veterans. Would the Heat be willing to give up Herro or Robinson? Precious Achiuwa?