The Orlando Magic are in the bottom tier of the playoff race in the Eastern Conference. Orlando is clinging to the 7 seed with a record of 21-27. The 7 seed feels like their ceiling but not their floor. What if Evan Fournier is the only thing holding them together? It seems odd but it’s probably true. Is Evan Fournier the Magic’s best player? Who is even the other answer?
I’m a big fan of Nikola Vucevic but he’s not having an All-Star type of year. Vucevic is down in pretty much every category from a year ago. Aaron Gordon seems to be regressing at an even faster rate. At this point, he is what he is. An athletic guy that hangs around on the floor not doing a whole lot.
It’s not all bad for Orlando. Markelle Fultz is actually a thing. I didn’t see that coming. Another yearly reminder not to give up on 19-year-olds so quickly. Speaking of leaps, Evan Fournier should be the talk of the town right now. Fournier, 27, is averaging a career high 18.8 points per game and doing it an efficient rate.
Fournier has an effective field goal percentage of 55.3 which is more than respectable while splashing 39.6 percent from down town. On a team that is full of weird players, Fournier has been able to stretch the floor and often create his own looks. It’s not like the Magic have a star distributor making life easier. Fournier has really gotten better with his dribble moves and finding angles to get his shot off in traffic.
So where do the Magic go from here? After making the playoffs a year ago as the 7 seed, they’re stuck in the same place this year. Fournier has become a real force and he fits on every team’s roster in the NBA. Everybody needs shooting and the former 2nd round pick from France is the real deal. I think it’s time to declare Fournier the Magic’s most important piece.
