2018 Orlando Magic Player Outlook: Evan Fournier

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Evan Fournier, Orlando Magic, Oklahoma City Thunder

ORLANDO, FL – MARCH 29: Evan Fournier #10 of the Orlando Magic shoots a lay up against the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 29, 2017 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /

What To Look For

The Orlando Magic at least know how not to use Evan Fournier now. And if they maintain the style they had after the All-Star Break, they should get a lot from Fournier this coming year.

There is no doubt Fournier can produce. He finds his way into the gaps and is efficient when he takes his shot. The narrative some aggrieved fans have about Fournier persists that he is not a good player. It is just the way he is used.

Before the All-Star Break, the Magic relied heavily on him in pick and rolls and in isolation. Perhaps Fournier got it into his head he had to be the main creator and so he drove, seemingly head down, into the lane. He struggled to know when to stop his drive and pass out before pressure enveloped him. His efficiency went down — as did his ability to get open shots since he was the one on the ball more.

After the All-Star Break, it seemed Fournier returned to what made him really good. Fournier had his breakout season in 2016 playing off the drives from Elfrid Payton and Victor Oladipo. The ball would reverse to him on the weak side and Fournier was adept at knowing when to take the open shot or when to attack the rotating defense. Especially if the team ran a quick pick and roll while the defense was getting settled.

Fournier will still have some wild drives. He can still sometimes slow the ball down too much and try to work his game in isolation. He gets himself in trouble when he drives too deep. But Fournier is still a smart player. He makes the right decision on most occasions.

It is just about putting him in the situation where he is playing off of someone else’s work. That is what made him more successful with Payton on the ball more in the second half of the season. And Fournier reaped the benefits of it.

That is the Fournier the Magic want to unlock. Especially since he is the most reliable shooter on the team, or at least in the starting lineup.