The Orlando Magic’s season was spiraling out of control and seemed to be on the verge of losing their season to injuries. But now as they have started to get healthier, the Magic seem to be going in the right direction again.
Their last two wins against the New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors are evidence the Orlando Magic’s season is not over. And it is revolving around the health of Evan Fournier.
To start the season, Evan Fournier was finally in the right role, which would optimize Fournier’s skill set and would fit in Orlando’s offensive scheme. Fournier is averaging 18.5 points per game on 46.4-percent from the field and 38.2-percent from three for the season.
Before Markelle Fultz’s injury, Fournier averaged 14.8 points per game on 51.1-percent shooting in the team’s first five games. That was when Fournier pulled himself out of the game with back spasms. He would miss the next nine games.
The Magic would deal with a mounting pile of injuries on top of Fournier’s injury as they fell from 6-2 to 10-18 before their last two wins.
Injuries are the main reason why the Magic have fallen off so much. The team is now 12th in the Eastern Conference with a 12-18 record. Under normal circumstances, losing 16 of 22 games might completely eliminate a team from playoff contention.
But this is the Eastern Conference. And a really bad one at that.
Despite a cavalcade of injuries, the Orlando Magic find themselves still in the race for a postseason spot. With Evan Fournier picking up where he left off, he might be the key to making a push for the postseason.
The Magic are just two games from eighth and 3.5 games out from the fourth seed. More immediately, the Orlando Magic trail the Miami Heat by just one game for the final spot in the play-in tournament.
Coach Steve Clifford has openly said the team’s goal remains to make a bid for the playoffs and to get back into the playoff chase. Despite all the struggles and missed opportunities the Magic have had, they are right there.
While it does not come down to one player, it is clear that the team’s potential for success is going to surround the health of Evan Fournier.
The Magic’s record without Fournier is 3-11. They averaged 99.8 points per game as a team on 41.5-percent shooting from the field and 31.6-percent shooting from beyond the arc in those games. However, with Fournier, the Magic are 9-7, averaging 110.6 points per game on 44.7 percent shooting overall and 38.7 percent from three.
The Magic have a 112.5 offensive rating with Fournier on the court, better than any player on the roster and well above the team’s 105.8 average. Though the team still carries a -3.6 net rating with Fournier on the court, that is still the best mark among the Magic’s typical starters.
Fournier’s presence on the court undoubtedly makes the Magic a better team. And he, for now, is central to their playoff hopes.
The eye test also suggests the Magic need Fournier to compete as he provides another dimension to the Magic’s offense.
He relieves a lot of the offensive pressure and burden from Nikola Vucevic. He provides shooting and can somewhat create his shot which helps spread the opposing defense, which makes everyone else’s job easier.
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While Vucevic is the best player on the team, Orlando needed to get healthy to have a chance to compete for a playoff spot.
The return of Michael Carter-Williams provided stability which gives the Magic’s offense structure. The return of Al-Farouq Aminu and James Ennis provided depth and defense. But Fournier’s return has provided an offensive punch that this team needed.
Whether this will last or what the Magic’s ultimate goals are will determine what comes next.
The Magic almost certainly want to stay in the playoff picture. The team has made it clear it is an organizational philosophy to compete for the playoffs and play meaningful games deep into the season.
But the team also has to start planning for its future ahead of the March 25 trade deadline.
Fournier is already considered one of the most attractive trade pieces on this market. He has an expiring contract and it feels unlikely the Magic will bring him back. Doing so almost certainly would put the Magic in the tax.
Unfortunately for this team — despite reporting the Magic might be content to keep their core intact to see what it can do when the group is healthy — the long-term future is likely going to take precedence on the trade market and some of the decisions the Magic will make.
The Eastern Conference’s forgiving nature might still allow the Magic to stay in playoff contention. But it likely will be tougher if the Magic do indeed trade Fournier.
In the end, as the Magic look to get back into playoff position, they need to continue to get healthier first and foremost.
It is going to help to get back Cole Anthony. But a part of the Magic’s success is going to rely on Fournier’s health, and whether or he is going to be consistently be playing and contributing at the level he has been.