Fighting stagnation
In the course of the Orlando Magic’s offseason and the direction the team is taking under Jeff Weltman, it certainly seems like Evan Fournier is the odd man out.
He still has plenty of use and should still be an effective player for the team, so there is no rush to deal him or move on from him. But there is a real question of just what more Fournier can provide the team.
Fournier has increased his scoring average every year of his career, but it might be fair to say that Fournier has reached the peak of his production. Averaging 17.8 points per game is probably about as much as the Magic want to see from him. Especially at his relatively fair usage rate.
At 25 years old, Fournier should have several years of at least similar production left in him. If that is what his role calls for. Yet, there is a sense that this is about as good as Fournier will ever get.
For the last three years, the Magic have seen relatively steady and consistent production from Fournier. He has been a reliable 3-point shooter and off-ball target. He is a good pick-and-roll player. But all those weaknesses are the same.
It is not that Fournier has not gotten better. It is more that he has not gotten appreciably better. His weaknesses are all the same without much sense of improvement.
Again, that is not to say he has not tried to become a better playmaker or a better defender. It is that he seems to have hit something of a ceiling to his ability.
No one should complain if Fournier keeps his current level of production. It is more than the team could imagine when they acquired him.
But this is a different front office too. And while the team can rely on Fournier to be a solid offensive contributor — one necessary to any kind of success for the team this season with its current makeup. He does not fit the direction the team wants to go with versatility and length.
Fournier still has a clear role on the team. He still has a place and will still be a vitally important player. But figuring out his next step is critical to his future with the team and expanding his game.