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2017-18 Orlando Magic Player Evaluations: Jonathon Simmons

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 31: Jonathon Simmons #17 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers on January 31, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 31: Jonathon Simmons #17 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers on January 31, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Jonathon Simmons, Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks
ORLANDO, FL – MARCH 14: Jonathon Simmons #17 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks on March 14, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Good and the Bad

Per Game Table
Season G GS MP FG% 3P% eFG% FT% TRB AST STL TOV PTS
2017-18 69 50 29.4 .465 .338 .511 .768 3.5 2.5 0.8 2.1 13.9

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 4/17/2018.

Jonathon Simmons played 1,392 minutes in the 2017 season. It was not a ton of time to evaluate him. He was largely coming off the bench and more of a change-of-pace player. Gregg Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs loved his defensive determinedness, if not his sometimes uncontrollable forays to the rim.

He needed some space to let himself go. An offense with a little bit less structure and, more time.

Simmons blew past that minutes played mark fairly quickly this season. He totaled 2,029 minutes. That was not an insignificant upgrade. Simmons wanted this opportunity to play more minutes and he took advantage of it.

Orlando gave him the freedom to work on the ball more and attack the basket. He had a career year, not just because of his minutes. Simmons averaged 17.1 points per game and shot a 51.1 percent effective field goal percentage. It was a quietly efficient season for Simmons, despite all the frustration with his style of play.

Like so many players, the Magic miscast Simmons a bit. They needed a shooter and Simmons was decidedly not that. He needed the ball in his hands for drives and. His passing was better than expected but hardly consistent.

Everyone seemed to agree Simmons’ ideal role was as the sixth man off the bench. There he could dominate the ball and drive and be a lead scorer. The team could find shooters to space the floor for him or he could better take advantage of weaker defenders. The starting lineup did not suit him as well it seemed.

But injuries forced him into duty. And the Magic and Simmons did the best they could with the role. That meant some awkward lineups where Simmons was trying too hard to take control of the team when it might have been better for him to defer. He only plays one way.

Most of that play was successful throughout the year. But he still needs some improvement.

Simmons still shot just 33.8 percent from beyond the arc. So he was not the floor spacer Orlando needed at that position — especially considering how much his skills clashed with Elfrid Payton and to some extent Aaron Gordon.

There was plenty to like about Simmons and his season in the end though. He was an effective player and one that seemed well worth Orlando’s early investment.