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2018-19 Orlando Magic Player Evaluations: Jonathon Simmons

By Philip Rossman-Reich

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 25: Orlando Magic Forward Jonathon Simmons (17) elevating to the basket during the Orlando Magic against Los Angeles Lakers NBA game on November 25, 2018, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Icon Sportswire)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 25: Orlando Magic Forward Jonathon Simmons (17) elevating to the basket during the Orlando Magic against Los Angeles Lakers NBA game on November 25, 2018, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Icon Sportswire) /
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Jonathon Simmons, Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets, Chris Paul
HOUSTON, TX – JANUARY 27: Jonathon Simmons #17 of the Orlando Magic battles Chris Paul #3 of the Houston Rockets for a loose ball in the second half at Toyota Center on January 27, 2019 in Houston, Texas. 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. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

An offseason injury kept Jonathon Simmons from making good on his promising first season with the Orlando Magic. He was never able to find his rhythm.

Jonathon Simmons is not much for words. He lets his game do the talking.

Brought up in the San Antonio Spurs system and having to work and fight his way into the league, Jonathon Simmons entered the league with hunger. He had to fight for everything. There is not much room for personality with the media. There was always another fight.

This is ultimately what attracted the Orlando Magic to him. He was the kind of gritty player that could help push the team in so many ways and could benefit from an expanded role. Jonathon Simmons was Jeff Weltman’s first free agent acquisition.

His first year in Orlando was a struggle in some ways. He focused more on expanding his offense and growing his game with the ball in his hands. That had him figuring to play a major role for the team.

With a new coach in Steve Clifford, it felt like Jonathon Simmons would provide a lot of the grit and defensive toughness this team did not naturally have. With a full year having played major minutes and gone through the season with a major role, he seemed poised to continue breaking out and carving out his place on the Magic.

None of that came to fruition. Simmons could not even really get started. He was left at the starter’s gate.

Simmons did not finish his first full season with the Magic. He suffered a wrist injury that caused him to miss the final 12 games of the season. He would need surgery early in the offseason.

Simmons would not end up doing any basketball activity throughout the offseason. He was not even back on the court when the team gathered together for a mini-camp before training camp started in September. Simmons hit the floor for the first time during training camp.

It was clear when he started playing how difficult it was for him to get his rhythm. He looked a step slow and his jump shot was nowhere to be found. Simmons might have been regaining some of his defensive prowess, but his dominance over the ball prevented the Magic from getting any offensive rhythm.

The Magic moved Simmons out of the rotation by midseason. Then in February, the team traded him to the Philadelphia 76ers to acquire Markelle Fultz. It felt almost certain the team would not guarantee the final year of Simmons’ contract anyway. His future with the team was lost as other players developed — namely Wesley Iwundu — and Jonathon Simmons’ effectiveness diminished.