Magic's Nikola Vucevic: On the outs for starting role?

Coach Frank Vogel recently indicated both Vucevic and Bismack Biyombo would see plenty of time at center during the upcoming season, but wouldn't commit to either player in a starting role, Cody Taylor of Basketball Insiders reports.

Analysis:

During his tenure with the Pacers, new Magic coach Frank Vogel prioritized defensive prowess first and foremost with his starting centers, and while Vucevic is a more skilled low-post threat than the likes of Roy Hibbert and Ian Mahinmi, his shortcomings on the other side of the court could make him an ill fit on a retooled Orlando roster. The team's decision to sign Bismack Biyombo, a relentless rebounder and rim-protecting center, to a four-year, $72 million contract this offseason would seem to suggest that even if he continues to start for the Magic, Vucevic will almost certainly see a decline in the 31.3 minutes per game he averaged a season ago. As one of the top-scoring centers in the league both of the past two seasons, Vucevic would still have plenty of appeal around the league, so it's conceivable the Magic could explore trading him in order to calibrate the roster according to Vogel's preferences.