Orlando Magic Daily Mailbag Volume 14: Decision time
@OMagicDaily In your opinion, if we had to make a choice between Oladipo or Fournier which one would you choose for long term?
— Tyler H (@youuuuuu14) March 14, 2016
This is the big question. It was the big question in March and it is the big question this summer. Can Evan Fournier and Victor Oladipo work together as a wing tandem long term? There certainly remains that possibility. Evan Fournier could put on some more muscle and become a small forward. He certainly works there offensively.
But his height — he is listed at 6-foot-7 — prevents him from guarding the bigger small forwards. It feels like he is a better fit at shooting guard long term. That is the assumption a lot of this operates under.
So if it comes down to a choice — and both players are on reasonable, market-appropriate contracts — what is the correct decision?
That is really a question of preference and how much anyone believes Victor Oladipo can reach that potential that eluded him so much the last year.
The debate to me comes down to Oladipo’s potential. Fournier is probably about the player he is going to be. He averaged 15.4 points per game and shot 40.0 percent from beyond the arc last year. Those are very good numbers for sure, but it is hard to say if Fournier can repeat those numbers again or reach another level.
That seems to be what many think Oladipo can do. He had his big finishing kick to the 2015 season, averaging 20.3 points and 4.5 assists per game after the All-Star Break.
Oladipo showed hints of that play, but never quite reached it even though his numbers did spike again after the All-Star Break. So there should remain a healthy amount of skepticism about Oladipo.
That does not mean a decision needs to be made now. Oladipo certainly can reach that height.
Long-term with the facts that we have now if I can only have one on the roster? I think I go with Fournier. I think he is more likely to keep up this level of production and not be inconsistent. Oladipo believes he is a star and plays like it. And I am not sure that he is. Fournier fits better.
This is all predicated on the Magic trading Oladipo for that kind of creator and quasi star the Magic desperately need in their lineup.
Oladipo is probably a better player overall. But it is also about fit — and to some extent price — and I am not sure if the team can build a winning roster with Oladipo as the focal point. But he could certainly still prove me wrong.
Next: Scott Skiles and Elfrid Payton