The Uncertain Future
The future of the Orlando Magic does not always seem to include Jonathon Simmons. And that part is the puzzling part about his status and place on the team.
Simmons would seem to have a lot of the things the Magic like in players. He is defensive minded and a solid defender with good positional versatility (the Magic tried him at point guard in desperation last year) and decent length.
Simmons is not the long-limbed player that Jonathan Isaac or Mohamed Bamba is. But he has shown defensive ability to use his athleticism and length to defend more than admirably. There is not a lot of difference with his physical makeup to Aaron Gordon. Both are gifted defenders despite a lack of raw physical presence.
Yet, putting together a consistent role for Simmons or his place with the Magic beyond the immediate is difficult to do.
Jonathon Simmons started 50 games last year, entering the lineup as a small forward in November when Terrence Ross volunteered to come off the bench. Simmons seized that opportunity and continued to grow his game from there.
But the injuries also gave Simmons a comfort. Orlando simply could rely on Simmons to be available and on the floor. If Terrence Ross were healthy or Jonathan Isaac healthy, they very well could have taken that spot back.
The general consensus is that Simmons worked best as a sixth man. There he could dominate the ball a bit more and play against weaker opponents. He played well off of a shooting point guard like D.J. Augustin and where he could take on a bit more of a playmaking role.
If the Magic can get him to settle into that kind of a role this year, they may get the most out of him. But that would also mean a decrease in minutes. Simmons would have to continue his efficient shooting, but it likely would come on fewer attempts.
Simmons, it seems, is in a situation where the Magic could maximize his efforts. But for the first time in his NBA career, Simmons could see his opportunity shrink some.
That is no knock on him. He has earned a solid role and a lot of trust after what he did last year. But the Magic have other players who produce much more consistently or are vital to the team’s future that will get more attention this year.
Simmons could compete to start at the beginning of the year. But eventually, Isaac will have to enter the lineup. And it seems unlikely Jonathon Simmons could displace Evan Fournier from the lineup — especially with the Magic’s lack of shooting.
It is not likely the Magic would decline the non-guaranteed part of Simmons’ contract for 2020. But Simmons’ future with the Magic is not exactly settled either. His role may become more defined, but it is hard to say where his place on this team is much further beyond that.