HoopsHype.com Rumors

Brian Schmitz: While Vucevic is getting noticed, he's not considered totally untouchable to Magic. At least not if you're offering a star in the exchange. Twitter @MagicInsider

Orlando Magic, Nikola Vucevic 

John Denton: #Magic Nik Vucevic: "I’ve just got to keep getting better. My goal is to be one of the best centers in the NBA. I think that I can do that." Twitter @JohnDenton555

Orlando Magic, Nikola Vucevic 

Vucevic will divide his offseason between Central Florida and Europe. Although he won't be on the Magic's summer- league team, Vucevic plans to play for his home country of Montenegro in Europe's championship tournament in Slovenia. Orlando Sentinel

Orlando Magic, Nikola Vucevic, Montenegro, Eurobasket 

John Denton: #Magic C Nik Vucevic: "I want to be one of the best centers in the NBA. And I think I can do that." Twitter @JohnDenton555

Orlando Magic, Nikola Vucevic 

``I think I’m a lot better and I’ve improved in every area of my game,’’ said Vucevic, whose Magic (20-59) host the Boston Celtics on Saturday at the Amway Center. ``My confidence is a lot higher, so when I go out on the court I just do what I do best so I don’t think as much. I’ve gotten stronger and I’m more mature, so I feel like I’m better overall. I’ve played the games and played through mistakes, so I’ve been able to get better.’’ NBA.com

Orlando Magic, Nikola Vucevic 

In time, Vucevic sees himself becoming a dominant player in the low post such as Memphis center Marc Gasol. Gasol, the younger brother of Pau Gasol, made his first NBA All-Star Game this season and he has averaged 13.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.6 blocks over his five-year NBA career. Considering the numbers that Vucevic is already putting up as a second-year pro who appears to be blossoming with every game, the Gasol comparison might be a bit conservative. But it hasn’t stopped Vucevic from studying Gasol’s games on a nightly basis and expecting more out of himself every time he hits the floor. ``I think somebody who I could play like someday would be Marc Gasol. He’s a very skilled big man who can face up, shoot it and play with his back to the basket. He passes the ball well and defensively he’s a smart player,’’ Vucevic said. ``He’s somebody I feel that I can learn a lot from. When I played against him, I struggled against him. When I watch games, I watch a lot of (Memphis Grizzlies) games and I can learn a lot from (Gasol). NBA.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Orlando Magic, Pau Gasol, Marc Gasol, Nikola Vucevic 

ESPN Stats & Info: Nikola Vucevic: 1st player in Magic history with 30 points, 20 rebounds, 5 assists in game Twitter

Orlando Magic, Nikola Vucevic 

Alex Kennedy: Kyle O'Quinn is hilarious. He taped a picture of Nik Vucevic's girlfriend in his locker. He wants to see how long it takes Nik to notice. Twitter @AlexKennedyNBA

Orlando Magic, Nikola Vucevic, Kyle O'Quinn 

Bothered briefly by headaches and a sensitivity to light after suffering a concussion last week, Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic was instructed to not watch television, read or even text on his phone during his recovery. So Vucevic turned to the one sure-fire remedy for his concussion symptoms and boredom: His mom’s cooking. NBA.com

Orlando Magic, Nikola Vucevic 

Vucevic’s concussion, which came as result of a Tyler Hansbrough elbow to the mouth and knocked him out of five Magic games, happened in the midst of a visit by his parents, Borislav and Ljiljana, from their native Montenegro. With little to do to pass the time as he cleared his head, Vucevic crafted a list of Montenegran dishes that he wanted his mom to cook while in Orlando. That, more than anything, helped him get through the disappointment of having to miss his first games of the season, he said. ``She did a lot of home-cooking and made a lot of my favorite meals. I made her a list of all of the meals that I wanted her to make and she took care of me,’’ Vucevic said with a chuckle. ``My favorite is made out of beef and it has a lot of cheese (stuffed) in it. Then, you roll it and fry that and put this special sauce on it. It’s pretty good. It’s one of the specialties from where I’m from.’’ NBA.com

Orlando Magic, Nikola Vucevic 

Center Nik Vucevic appears to be making progress as he recovers from the mild concussion he sustained March 19. Vucevic shot baskets this morning on the Orlando Magic’s practice court after his teammates prepared for their game tonight against the Washington Wizards. Lead assistant coach James Borrego and video analyst Adam Glessner fed Vucevic the ball as Vucevic put up his shots. How nice was it for coach Jacque Vaughn to see Vucevic back on the court? “Good,” Vaughn said with a smile on his face. “He still hasn’t been handed over to me yet, so I’d probably like that step probably the best. But it’s good to see him out there with Coach Borrego and getting some shots up.” Orlando Sentinel

Orlando Magic, Nikola Vucevic 

Coach Jacque Vaughn might decide to not to play Vucevic even after Vucevic receives a medical OK to play again. Vaughn has been cautious in putting players back on the court after injuries. Vucevic wouldn't speculate on how close he is to playing again. "I don't know," he said. "All that is up to the trainer. I just follow what he says." Vucevic attended the Magic's workout Tuesday. Although the Magic primarily shot baskets, Vucevic didn't participate, Vaughn said. Orlando Sentinel

Orlando Magic, Injuries, Nikola Vucevic 

Nik Vucevic, who is recovering from a mild concussion he sustained on March 19, won't play when the Orlando Magic play the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday night. Vucevic said Tuesday he wasn't scheduled to accompany the team to North Carolina, but he said he expects to play again this season. "I'm getting better," the 22-year-old center said. "I'm better day-by-day. I'll leave it up to the trainer and the doctor." Orlando Sentinel

Orlando Magic, Injuries, Nikola Vucevic 

Josh Robbins: Nik Vucevic (concussion) didn't practice today. He's listed as questionable for 2moro night. If I had to guess: No way he plays vs Heat. Twitter @JoshuaBRobbins

Orlando Magic, Injuries, Nikola Vucevic 

What he is now is the best bargain in town — if not in the entire NBA. Vooch is still playing on his rookie contract he originally signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, making $1.7 million this season and $1.8 million next season. Yeah, he's going to get a slight bump. He could command at least $10million a year in the open market today. Orlando Sentinel

Orlando Magic, Nikola Vucevic 

John Denton: If #Heat had dealt MChalmers and/or NCole last summer Nik Vucevic would have been their center and they likely would have won for yrs 2 come Twitter @JohnDenton555

Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Nikola Vucevic 

John Denton: #Magic C Nik Vucevic: "@LeBron James told me after the game I played real well and that means a lot coming from the best player in the NBA." Twitter @JohnDenton555

Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, LeBron James, Nikola Vucevic 

Evan Dunlap: Nik Vučević on his father: "I got him League Pass, which wasn't very smart, because now he can watch all my games and critique me." Twitter @BQRMagic

Orlando Magic, Nikola Vucevic 

Rosters set for Rising Stars Team Shaq: Damian Lillard, Kyrie Irving, Andre Drummond, Klay Thompson, Harrison Barnes, Chandler Parsons, Dion Waiters, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Tyler Zeller, Kemba Walker. Team Chuck: Anthony Davis, Kenneth Faried, Kawhi Leonard, Bradley Beal, Ricky Rubio, Tristan Thompson, Nikola Vucevic, Brandon Knight, Isaiah Thomas, Alexy Shved. Sulia

Ricky Rubio, Harrison Barnes, Kemba Walker, Kyrie Irving, Isaiah Thomas, Klay Thompson, Nikola Vucevic, Kenneth Faried, Anthony Davis, Tristan Thompson, Kawhi Leonard, Tyler Zeller, Bradley Beal, Brandon Knight, Chandler Parsons, Andre Drummond, Damian Lillard, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Dion Waiters, All Star Game 

The BBVA Rising Stars Challenge -- televised live nationally on TNT at 9 p.m. ET and broadcast live on ESPN Radio, with live audio also available on NBA.com in multiple languages -- features two teams each consisting of nine rookies and sophomores mixed together, drafted from a pool selected by the NBA's assistant coaches. Joining Irving from the Sophomore class are: Kenneth Faried (Denver Nuggets), Brandon Knight (Detroit Pistons), Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio Spurs), Chandler Parsons (Houston Rockets), Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors), Tristan Thompson (Cleveland Cavaliers), Nikola Vucevic (Orlando Magic), and Kemba Walker (Charlotte Bobcats). Davis and Lillard lead a group of rookies that includes Harrison Barnes (Warriors) Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards), Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons), Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Bobcats), Alexey Shved (Minnesota Timberwolves), Dion Waiters (Cavaliers), and Tyler Zeller (Cavaliers). Oregonian

Harrison Barnes, Kemba Walker, Klay Thompson, Nikola Vucevic, Kenneth Faried, Tristan Thompson, Kawhi Leonard, Tyler Zeller, Bradley Beal, Brandon Knight, Chandler Parsons, Andre Drummond, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Dion Waiters, Alexey Shved, All Star Game