Magic trade rumors: Is Nikola Vucevic untouchable?

Ever since trading Dwight Howard, the Orlando Magic have lacked the kind of marquee star player that a team would ideally like to build around. Given that, one would imagine the Magic being open to trading pretty much anyone on their roster if the right offer came along.

That's why it's rather confusing that starting center Nikola Vucevic is being made untouchable by the franchise, as Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel reports.

Vucevic may be in the midst of a breakout season with Orlando since being acquired as part of the deal that sent out Howard, but labeling him as off-limits in trade talks would seem to indicate that the Magic view him as a cornerstone player. As well as the 22-year-old has played in his second pro season, that's probably a stretch.

In 52 starts with the Magic this season, Vucevic is averaging 12.4 points, 11.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 32.5 minutes per game. He's a very good rebounder, but only a decent defender, which would require him to be a pretty incredible offensive player to be considered untouchable. Vucevic, while solid, doesn't play at that level.

Should the Magic be looking to trade Vucevic necessarily? No, he's a good player. But they're a rebuilding team in need of cornerstones and they shouldn't be turning away anyone looking to engage in trade talks.

Magic looking to dump contracts in Redick deal?

Orlando would "probably" be willing to trade shooting guard J.J. Redick if it meant shedding the contract of Al Harrington or Hedo Turkoglu, Schmitz writes in the same article. He adds that such a deal likely isn't going to come along for the Magic.

Turkoglu was already having a tough season before being suspended 20 games after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs, so it's hard to imagine any team being interested in his services these days. He's owed $12 million for the 2013-14 season, though only $6 million is guaranteed.

Harrington hasn't even played yet this season due to a knee injury, which obviously makes it hard for any team to commit to acquiring the veteran. He's signed through the 2014-15 season, but his contract is only fully guaranteed through this season.

The Nuggets are said to be one suitor for Redick, as SB Nation's Magic blog, Orlando Pinstriped Post, writes, but they're probably not going to bring back Harrington and Turkoglu seems like a hard sell these days.