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Vucevic, Magic agree to extension
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
Center Nikola Vucevic and the Orlando Magic agreed to a four-year contract extension, multiple media outlets reported Tuesday.
The Orlando Sentinel and ESPN.com reported the extension is worth $53 million. Yahoo Sports reported the deal will pay Vucevic $54 million. USA Today Sports listed the contract value at $48 million with incentives that could hike the total to $53 million.
The extension for Vucevic, who turns 24 years old this week, will start after the upcoming season and will run through 2018-19. Vucevic will not be able to opt out of the deal earlier.
The 6-foot-11 center averaged a career-best 14.2 points per game last season while pulling down 11 rebounds per game. Over the first three seasons of his NBA career — one season with the Philadelphia 76ers and two with Orlando — he is averaging 11.4 points and 9.7 rebounds per game.
A first-round pick by Philadelphia in 2011, Vucevic joined the Magic as part of the four-team deal that sent center Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers in August 2012.
According to ESPN.com, Vucevic was the fifth 2011 first-round selection to sign a contract extension ahead of the Oct. 31 deadline, joining Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving, Denver Nuggets power forward Kenneth Faried and Phoenix Suns power forwards Markieff Morris and Marcus Morris.
Others eligible for extensions prior to the end of the month include Orlando forward Tobias Harris, San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard, Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson and Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio.
