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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, Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets
BROOKLYN, NY – APRIL 18: Jonathon Simmons #14 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots the ball against the Brooklyn Nets during Game Three of Round One of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on April 18, 2019 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

2020 Outlook

Obviously, the Orlando Magic wrote his future with the team in February. They traded Jonathon Simmons to the Philadelphia 76ers for Markelle Fultz.

The Magic took a very calculated and high-reward risk trading away a struggling player out of their rotation for a former top overall pick who has tremendous upside.

Simmons was out of the rotation at that point and his future with the team looked bleak. Simmons signed a three-year, $18 million deal in the summer of 2017 with the final year guaranteed for only $1 million. With how he played during the 2018 season, it felt certain the Magic would pick up that last year.

But this year put all that into doubt. When he went out of the rotation, it seemed far more likely the team would let that expire and use the $5 million in cap room to add someone else to the roster. Instead, the team re-invested that in a player with a ton more upside.

Related Story. 2017-18 Orlando Magic Player Evaluation: Jonathon Simmons. light

The Magic certainly feel like Fultz will be part of the team’s future. They are being patient with his recovery. The return on that trade will not be entirely clear for a little while longer.

Simmons’ future looks even murkier after his half-season with the 76ers.

He played in just 15 games for the 76ers after the trade, averaging 5.5 points per game in 14.6 minutes per game. He shot a better 45.3 percent overall including 42.9 percent from beyond the arc. But his minutes were much more limited.

In the playoffs, Simmons has appeared in only five games, averaging 7.8 minutes per game. That is hardly enough time to establish much of a rhythm. And Simmons has not played in the past six games really — he played in the Philadelphia 76ers’ blowout wins over the Brooklyn Nets in Game 6 and Toronto Raptors in Game 3.

It is not particularly clear if the 76ers will pick up that final year on Simmons’ contract.

He should find a home somewhere. But he will not get the big contract he seemed in line for at the end of last season. Simmons is back to fighting for his place in the league.

He will get another shot, but he has to bounce back. A healthy summer should go a long way.