2019 Orlando Magic Player Outlook: Jonathon Simmons

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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) /

What to Look For

When the Orlando Magic acquired Jonathon Simmons last summer, they figured they were getting a player who had the spurtability to score a lot of points but would provide much more value as an energizing defender.

He had shown with more minutes he could produce at a high level. But he was still someone who struggled as a 3-point shooter and would often put his head down and burrow his way to the basket.

The Magic got all of that and a bit more last year. Simmons proved to be all those things. His increase in scoring while maintaining solidly efficient play was more than the Magic could ask for offensively from him.

Simmons had some big scoring bursts, scoring 21 points in the third quarter of his 34-point performance against the Cleveland Cavaliers in February or dropping seven 3-pointers in a 35-point performance in a win over the Milwaukee Bucks.

Simmons had these moments with the San Antonio Spurs when he got the time. The Magic gave him more of this time and it became much more pronounced.

The next trick for Simmons is to provide consistency. He scored plenty last year — 13.9 points per game — but had plenty of times where he struggled to get going and stretches where he struggled to shoot. For every big game he had, he had plenty of games where he was struggling to score.

And fatigue clearly set in for him as his minutes continued to pile up. He would settle for jumpers and his ability to get to the basket became less pronounced.

Simmons’ poor outside shooting did not help matters either. There were games where he could hit 3-pointers at a scorching rate. But often he was struggling to make even open 3-pointers.

Fortunately, Simmons was pretty smart about when he would take 3-pointers. He did not seem like he was someone who would settle. But there were still moments where he forced drives and got himself into trouble forcing up bad shots.

He just has to continue to bring his overall efficiency as a scorer up.

And then he has to rediscover the defense that helped him make the league to begin with. Simmons was not quite the defender the Magic hoped he would be. He was still good, but not the lock-down defense the Magic thought they might get.

Simmons showed he had a lot of tools. One that made him a pleasant surprise that shined in the Magic’s time of need.