The Orlando Magic were in charge of energizing the 2021 market closure with three operations that confirmed the dismantling of the team’s backbone and the beginning of a new stage in the franchise.
The most important move – and that would give rise to later ones by Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier – would be the transfer of Nikola Vucevic to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Wendell Carter Jr., Otto Porter Jr., and two future protected first rounds of the draft. (2021 and 2023).
Despite the fact that a large part of the operations carried out in the NBA do not have the direct approval of the players, the current interior of the Bulls indicated that his transfer was previously discussed and agreed with the management of Orlando.
“It was something that we discussed a lot and mutually agreed,” said Vucevic according to the media. Chicago Sun Times. “It was not a situation where they told me they were not going to transfer me and then they did. It all came from my communication with them, so it was not a surprise. Things weren’t working out the way we wanted and I think that, in the end, it was the best for both parties. “
The Florida franchise will need a much longer window of time to see the results of this operation as they are mired in the initial phase of its reconstruction. For his part, Vucevic has landed on some Bulls that have settled in third position in the Eastern Conference in this first month of the season.
The big men He reappeared on Wednesday against the Houston Rockets after missing the previous seven games due to his positive for COVID-19.
(Photo courtesy of Tim Nwachukwu / Getty Images)
