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Vucevic unconcerned with Magic's crowded frontcourt: 'I'm definitely a starter'

Reinhold Matay / USA TODAY Sports

The Orlando Magic's offseason to date has been something of a head-scratcher.

After trading promising swingman Tobias Harris during the season with the ostensible aim of clearing cap space, the Magic used most of that cap space to sign combo forward Jeff Green and center Bismack Biyombo. Those signings came after the Magic traded shooting guard (and foundational building block) Victor Oladipo as part of a package for forward-center Serge Ibaka, who will be an unrestricted free agent after the 2016-17 season.

It's all left the Magic with a bit of a frontcourt crunch, as Green, Biyombo, and Ibaka join power forward Aaron Gordon and center Nikola Vucevic.

For his part, Vucevic isn't concerned about one of the new guys - specifically Biyombo, who similarly has just one natural position - snatching his job or his minutes.

"I was starting. I don't expect that to change," Vucevic told Sirius XM NBA Radio on Thursday. "I think I have proven I am definitely a starter in this league and I believe one of the best centers in this league."

Vucevic has started in all but five of his games since being traded to Orlando in 2012. He's averaged 16.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 2.1 assists for the Magic, including 18.2, 8.9, and 2.8 last season. Biyombo's raw numbers aren't nearly as impressive, and his offensive game is far less refined, but his defensive impact has been greater by leaps and bounds.

Because of this year's salary-cap spike, Biyombo is also going to be making more money than Vucevic, though the Swiss 7-footer doesn't expect that to factor into the Magic's lineup management.

"I don't believe there is any reason for me to come off the bench," he said. "I have spoken to the Magic about it. They know that. That's no disrespect to Bismack and he proved a lot last season and had a great playoff. But I believe I will still be a starter and one of the main guys on the team going forward as well."

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