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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, Joe Ingles, Utah Jazz
Orlando Magic’s Jonathon Simmons (R) vies for the ball with Utah Jazz’s Joe Ingles during an NBA Global Games match at the Mexico City Arena, on December 15, 2018, in Mexico City. (Photo by PEDRO PARDO / AFP) (Photo credit should read PEDRO PARDO/AFP/Getty Images) /

Final Grade

JONATHON SIMMONS. D. . G/F. Orlando Magic

There is no doubt Jonathon Simmons did not play up to expectations this year — his own or the fans. The team was ready to rely on him as the engine of the second unit. He would be the primary creator and scorer, using Jerian Grant and Terrence Ross to space the floor some.

He was supposed to be the flamethrower that Terrence Ross became, honestly. He showed that potential throughout last season as he took on a major role for the first time.

Simmons fell completely short of that. And his struggles to score with that second unit led to a lot of the issues that bench group faced early in the season. The Magic were struggling to string together wins through the first half of the season because their bench was so poor.

Simmons’ struggles were a big part of that. He never could establish his rhythm or any kind of consistency. And that was a major detriment to the team’s early hopes. Steve Clifford perhaps stuck with him a bit too long as the team tried to get him going.

Not all of this was Simmons’ fault. And that is why he should not get an outright “F.”

His wrist injury was more serious than anyone knew before the season began. He was playing catch up from the very beginning of the season. And that was a lot to ask for a player still getting used to major roles.

That is not an entire excuse. The Magic put him in something of a position to fail by relying on him too much after his recovery took longer than expected. Orlando, it felt like, played him the way the team expected him to be rather than how he was. There needed to be a bit more flexibility.

Still, they gave Simmons the time and the space to get himself back. And he just could not do it. He was forcing things and trying to create for the team and play the role and it just was not there.

Next. What Went Wrong: Adjusting rotations. dark

Orlando ultimately moved on from this free agent signing. His potential with the team unfulfilled. But the potential of what they got in return for him still lying ahead.