When the Orlando Magic made the bold decision to trade Nikola Vucevic back in 2021, it marked a franchise-altering pivot - the kind of reset that can either set a team back years or launch it into something new and promising. Fast forward to today, and it’s pretty clear which direction things went.
With Vucevic now on the move again - this time from Chicago to Boston in a deal that sends Anfernee Simons and a second-round pick to the Bulls - the book on his time in Chicago is effectively closed. And while Vucevic was far from a bust in the Windy City, the bigger story here is how that original trade with Orlando shaped the future of both franchises.
Let’s rewind.
The Trade That Changed Everything
Back in 2021, the Magic were reeling from injuries and fading fast in a COVID-shortened season. That’s when team president Jeff Weltman made the call to hit the reset button in a big way.
The centerpiece of that move? Sending Vucevic and Al-Farouq Aminu to the Bulls in exchange for Wendell Carter Jr., Otto Porter Jr., and two first-round picks.
At the time, it felt like a surprise. Everyone expected Evan Fournier to be moved - he was on an expiring deal.
Aaron Gordon had already made his trade request public. But Vucevic?
That was the shockwave.
And now, with the Bulls officially moving on from Vucevic, we can start to fully assess the impact of that trade. Spoiler: Orlando came out ahead - way ahead.
Chicago’s Vucevic Era: Solid, But Stuck in the Middle
Let’s be clear: Vucevic wasn’t a disappointment in Chicago. Over six seasons, he averaged 18.1 points and 10.5 rebounds per game - both solid numbers, and actually better scoring than he posted during his nine-year run in Orlando. He gave the Bulls a reliable offensive option in the post and on the perimeter, and he remained productive well into his 30s.
But the problem wasn’t Vucevic’s production. It was the ceiling of the team around him.
The Bulls made a splash in 2022, riding the momentum of Lonzo Ball’s arrival to a playoff appearance. But that was the high-water mark.
For the next three years, they hovered in Play-In purgatory - good enough to compete, not good enough to contend. Injuries, inconsistency, and a flawed roster construction kept them stuck in the middle.
Eventually, Zach LaVine was traded. The rebuild whispers grew louder. And now, with Vucevic headed to Boston at age 35 and in the final year of his contract, the Bulls are finally acknowledging what’s been obvious for a while: it’s time to start fresh.
Orlando’s Rebuild: A Blueprint for Patience Paying Off
Meanwhile in Orlando, that trade was the spark that ignited a full rebuild - and it’s been paying dividends ever since.
Wendell Carter Jr. has developed into a reliable starting center. He’s not flashy, but he’s steady - averaging 12.4 points and 8.2 rebounds over six seasons with the Magic. While injuries have occasionally slowed him down, he’s been a key piece of the team’s defensive identity and frontcourt stability.
But the real prize of the trade? Franz Wagner.
One of the picks acquired in the Vucevic deal turned into Wagner - and that’s where this trade goes from good to franchise-defining. Wagner has blossomed into one of the best young wings in the league. He’s been an All-Star in each of the last two seasons (injuries kept him from actually playing in one), and he’s averaging 19.3 points per game on 47.5% shooting this season.
Wagner isn’t just a scorer - he’s a connector, a two-way force, and the kind of player you can build around. He’s already earned medals on the international stage and has become a cornerstone for Orlando’s rise.
Add in Jalen Suggs from the same 2021 Draft and Paolo Banchero - the 2022 No. 1 pick - and you’ve got the foundation of a team that’s gone from bottoming out to making the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. The Magic even went all-in this past offseason, swinging a deal for Desmond Bane to add firepower to the mix.
Yes, they’ve hit a bit of a wall this season. But the pieces are there.
The direction is clear. And the future is bright.
The Scoreboard Doesn’t Lie
If you’re judging the trade by who got the best player, it’s Orlando in a landslide. Wagner is already a star and still getting better.
If you’re judging it by who’s in the better position today? Again, it’s Orlando.
The Bulls got a few solid seasons out of Vucevic, but never broke through. They’re now entering a rebuild that Orlando already completed - and with better results. The Magic have a young core, playoff experience, and legitimate aspirations to contend in the near future.
Chicago? They’re starting over.
This trade was a turning point. For the Bulls, it was a gamble that didn’t pay off.
For the Magic, it was the start of something real. And as Vucevic heads to Boston to begin the next chapter of his career, the verdict is in.
Orlando won the trade - and it’s not particularly close.