Orlando Magic trade Nikola Vucevic to Chicago Bulls in four-player deal, get two first-round picks, sources say

The Orlando Magic are trading All-Star center Nikola Vucevic and Al-Farouq Aminu to the Chicago Bulls, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Thursday.

The Bulls are sending Wendell Carter Jr., Otto Porter Jr. and first-round picks in 2021 and 2023 to the Magic, sources told ESPN.

Vucevic, who is averaging a career-best 24.5 points and 11.8 rebounds this season while shooting 40.6% from 3-point range, is a huge addition for the Bulls, who remain in pursuit of Lonzo Ball. The Magic are moving toward a rebuild, with Aaron Gordon having been dealt to Denver on Thursday, sources told ESPN.

After also adding two second-round picks with the trade of guard Evan Fournier to the Boston Celtics on Thursday, per sources, the Magic are gathering significant draft assets to build around young players Jonathan Isaac and Markelle Fultz, who are under long-term contract.

Chicago’s leadership — Arturas Karnisovas, Marc Eversley and Billy Donovan — wanted to bring on a productive, serious-minded veteran player to be a cornerstone for the Bulls. They get one with Vucevic, who has been a pillar with Orlando.

In a separate deal, Chicago acquired Troy Brown and Mo Wagner from the Washington Wizards on Thursday in exchange for Daniel Gafford and Chandler Hutchinson, sources told ESPN.

According to ESPN Stats & Information, Vucevic, who has two years and $46 million remaining on his contract after this season, is just one of four players in the league to average 21 points and 11 rebounds over the last three seasons, along with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns.

Vucevic, who entered the NBA with the 76ers as the 16th overall pick in the 2011 draft, was traded to the Magic after his rookie season. In 10 seasons, the two-time All-Star selection (2019 and 2021) has averaged 16.7 points and 10.3 rebounds.

He is one of just three players to reach the 10,000 point milestone with Orlando, trailing only Dwight Howard and Nick Anderson.

Aminu is averaging 5.5 points and 5.4 rebounds in his second season with the Magic. He has also played for the Clippers, Pelicans, Mavericks and Trail Blazers during his 11 NBA seasons.

Carter, 21, the seventh overall pick out of Duke in 2018, is averaging 10.9 points and 7.8 rebounds for the Bulls this season.

Porter will be joining his third NBA team, having played for the Wizards and Bulls since entering the league in 2013 as the third overall pick. The 27-year-old forward is averaging 9.9 points and 5.5 rebounds this season for Chicago.