2019 Orlando Magic Player Outlook: Evan Fournier

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Evan Fournier, Orlando Magic, Brooklyn Nets

NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 1: Evan Fournier #10 of the Orlando Magic puts a move on to try to pass Quincy Acy #13 of the Brooklyn Nets in an NBA basketball game on January 1, 2018 at Barclays Center in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Nets won 98-95. 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 License agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images) /

What To Look For

Evan Fournier has become Mr. Reliable for the Orlando Magic. He is quite certainly at the peak of his offensive powers. And while that peak is probably not good enough to lead a Playoff team in scoring, it certainly is valuable.

Fournier averaged a team-high 17.8 points per game last year. That was more than the 17.2 points per game he averaged in 2017 and the 15.4 points per game he averaged in his breakout 2016 season.

The bottom line with Fournier is that he is a consistent and reliable scorer. His work rate is just solid and his skills offensively or more repeatable and versatile than almost anyone on the court.

That should not go unappreciated. It gets largely taken for granted.

But Fournier is someone that at least has a bit of gravity to him and can keep the floor spaced. He was second on the team among rotation players in 3-point field goal percentage. His role in that sense cannot be overstated.

The Magic had a team-best 106.2 offensive rating with Fournier on the floor. He was a vital cog to the Magic’s offense. And all this comes on a relatively low 23.3 percent usage rate last season. He was incredibly efficient last year, returning to the levels he was at in his 2016 season.

Fournier is someone who plays completely within himself. That may not give the team exactly what it needs from a top scorer. But it gives the team a reliable and consistent option. Especially as other players start to fill in.

Fournier is as effective — probably more effective — playing off the ball as he would be as a lead scorer. In fact, his usage rate suggests he does not really ever play the lead role offensively. Fournier is someone who makes an impact offensively with or without the ball. He finds a way to attack and score effectively.

The Magic have had to ask Fournier to do a lot. But Fournier has proven himself effective at every turn.

Fournier is a good shooter. He can attack when needed, especially off ball reversals. And Fournier is surprisingly effective in the pick and roll. He scored 0.93 points per possession on pick and rolls as the ball handler, in the 81st percentile among NBA players.

There is probably not one thing Fournier does at an elite level. But he does a lot of things really well. And the Magic will need that spacing and consistency he provides as their other players come of age.

Fournier should be able to provide just that.