Orlando Magic Daily Mailbag Volume 37: The gift under the tree
The Fournier Dilemma
This is probably the biggest issue facing the Orlando Magic entering this offseason.
We all sense the team needs some major, fundamental changes to take its next step. While this group the Magic have is certainly good enough to make the playoffs, the Magic obviously are not satisfied with just a first-round exit.
A lot of our focus is on how those big deals could get made. And it seems like Aaron Gordon, with his struggles this year especially, is that odd man out. If anything, it feels like the Magic could get the most in a trade for him that would improve the team.
But Evan Fournier will provide the most pressure point of any player on the roster.
Fournier has been the most consistent player on the roster this year, averaging a career-best 19.2 points per game on a 56.6-percent effective field goal percentage. Fournier is close to an All-Star level this year, although he is maybe not a dominant scorer every night.
That is a lot to lose. And so his player option for the 2021 season looms very large over the entire team.
If the Magic lose him, they lose their best shooter and one of their better players in the pick and roll. If the Magic retain him, they find themselves overcommitted financially to a roster that seems to have a ceiling in the first round — with looming new contracts coming for Jonathan Isaac and Markelle Fultz.
I do not think the Magic should trade Fournier at this deadline unless a clearly better option presents itself. Like I said, the goal this year is to make the Playoffs. The Magic are not going to do anything to jeopardize that goal.
And right now, no one seems able to step up to the plate and make up for that production — adding to the small alarm over Gordon’s struggles to start the season.
The Magic cannot pay everyone on this team. Someone has to get squeezed out.
I think re-signing Nikola Vucevic was the right call. The team could not turn its back on its first playoff roster and All-Star in seven years. The team had to show it was willing to reward that small measure of success. Plus, Mohamed Bamba is not ready to start.
I think keeping Aaron Gordon and remaining cautious with who they trade for him is the right call too. Gordon is still only 24 years old. And while, six seasons into his career, it looks like he has reached his ceiling. That just probably is not true. Gordon is still incredibly young — and still a really good defender.
The Magic are right to be patient to wait for the move that works best for them — it worked out for the Miami Heat, it seems, but still carries plenty of risk and requires valuing draft picks and hitting on those players and a few undrafted players that fit the team’s culture.
It all seems to point toward Fournier getting squeezed out. If he opts out of his contract this summer, it is probably in the team’s best interest to let him walk. That would be a tough loss to make up, but the Magic have to be ready to make some tough decisions.
Thanks everyone for the mailbag questions. You can always interact with the site in our comments section and on Twitter @omagicdaily. Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!