The Orlando Magic are trading Nikola Vucevic and Al-Farouq Aminu to the Chicago Bulls for Wendell Carter Jr. and Otto Porter, according to Adrian Wojnarowski.
The Magic are also receiving a pair of first round draft picks from the Bulls.
Those picks will be in 2021 and 2023, Wojnarowski adds.
This is a stunning move and a very important addition for the Bulls who are also in pursuit of Lonzo Ball.
The Magic trading away Vucevic is a signal that they are moving toward a full-on rebuild, as Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier are also expected to be traded.
It was recently reported that the Magic were listening to offers for Vucevic, but it was going to take a “substantial package” to pry him away.
The Bulls’ leadership – executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas, general manager Marc Eversley and head coach Billy Donovan – wanted to bring on a productive, serious-minded veteran player to be a cornerstone for the Bulls and they get one in Vucevic, Wojnarowski notes.
The Bulls are going all in on making a playoff push and surrounding Zach LaVine with other assets.
Carter will get a fresh start with the Magic, as he is still a player with upside.
He will likely slot in as the starting center.
It’s unclear if the rebuilding Magic will hold on to Porter or trade him away somewhere else.
