evan fournier

Josh Cohen

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TORONTO – Three weeks ago, following a relatively meaningless preseason game where the Orlando Magic had blown a double-digit fourth-quarter lead in a loss to Houston, guard Evan Fournier sat at his locker some 30 minutes afterward with his head in his hands.

Acquired over the summer by a Magic front office that believed in his playmaking abilities and promoted to starter status by a coaching staff that loved his versatility, Fournier felt like he was blowing his big opportunity. That night, following an uncharacteristic three-turnover finish, Fournier was upset with himself – nearly to the point of tears, mind you – over his silly turnovers and indecision with the ball in his hands.

``I know that I can do this and that I can play this game,’’ Fournier said while shaking his head in disgust. ``I just have to play with confidence and stop thinking so much.’’

Sensing that Fournier was pressing while trying to impress his new coaches, new teammates and new fans in Orlando, head coach Jacque Vaughn gave a the 6-foot-7 guard a pep talk and continued to put the ball his hands – moves that did wonders for his confidence. Vaughn stressed to Fournier that the organization had wanted him here for years and that the coaching staff believed in his vast promise. Also, Nikola Vucevic – Fournier’s closest friend and a fellow French speaker – offered encouragement to a teammate who was in need of a pick-me-up shot of confidence.

Suddenly, Fournier let go of all the feelings that he was squandering his big chance in Orlando and realized that he only needed to play with the same swagger that he’s had since he turned professional as a 16-year-old back in France. Just hearing that the Magic had his back – something that didn’t always happen during his first two seasons in Denver with the Nuggets’ ever-changing management and coaching staff – meant the world to Fournier.

``This opportunity allowed me to display my talent. And as a player you want to be where the coach wants you, the organization wants you – that’s a great feeling to have,’’ said Fournier, who only recently turned 22 years old. ``It was an awesome feeling knowing that they wanted me, because that’s what you are looking for as a player.’’

The renewed confidence has allowed Fournier to blossom into the player that the Magic thought he could be when they traded their 2013-14 leading scorer, Arron Afflalo, for the promising shooting guard last June on draft night. In seven games for the Magic (2-5) – which face the East-leading Toronto Raptors (6-1) on Tuesday night – Fournier has averaged 16 points a game and has been a model of efficiency in shooting the ball.

Fournier has made 50.6 percent of his shots from the floor and 50 percent of his 3-point shots. He played well again in Orlando’s difficult loss in Brooklyn on Sunday, hitting six of nine shots (one of the misses was a half-court heave), both of his 3-pointers and scoring 19 points.

He has shocked foes and surprised teammates with his ability to not only get in the lane, but also finish once at the rim. He has 23 dunks or layups already by fearlessly attacking the rim and using his 6-7 size and his creative flair to find release points for his shot. Vucevic joked a couple of weeks back that he didn’t even think that the guard could dunk, prompting this Fournier retort: ``Nik can’t mess with me on that because he has no bounce.’’

In Orlando, Fournier’s already drawn comparisons to Hedo Turkoglu – a 6-foot-10 player who helped the Magic reach the 2009 NBA Finals by using his rare gifts as a ball-handler with great size to get in the lane and create plays either for himself or others. And there are even some throughout the NBA who have tossed out similarity scales to another famed international player – San Antonio’s forward Manu Ginobili – because of his fearlessness and attacking style of play.

``He’s playing with a lot of confidence now. In the exhibition games, he had some ups and downs because he was getting used to our team’s style of play and his new role. But since the season started he’s been great,’’ said Vucevic, the player who has greatly helped Fournier’s transition to the Magic with his friendship. ``Evan’s stayed aggressive and he’s getting to the rim a lot and drawing fouls. He’s hit really big shots for us. We’re still trying to figure out our pick-and-roll and I see him as a guy who is only going to keep getting better.’’

That’s what Magic executives thought two years ago when they had scouted Fournier – a native of suburban Paris – while he was coming up in France’s professional leagues. Fournier was the 20th pick of the 2012 NBA Draft by the Nuggets and veteran head coach George Karl trusted him enough with the ball in his hands that he would allow the rookie to initiate the offense and run pick-and-roll plays.

A year later, Karl was out as Denver’s coach and Masai Ujiri – the league’s Executive of the Year who actually got his start in the NBA as an unpaid scout with the Magic in 2002 – left for the Toronto Raptors. Tim Connelly took over as GM, and rookie head coach Brian Shaw moved Fournier into a role where he was predominantly a spot-up shooter.

Fournier averaged 8.4 points a game last season in Denver – nearly half the production that he’s given the Magic so far this season. He stressed that it ``took me about two hours’’ to get over getting traded by the Nuggets, realizing quickly that Orlando offered him a tremendous opportunity to grow as a player. Vaughn said GM Rob Hennigan and Orlando’s scouting staff deserve the credit for realizing that the multi-talented guard would be a good fit on Orlando’s young roster.

``Overall, our scouting crew and our general manager did a great job in understanding the potential that Evan had to bring to our team. I think we’ve given him a lot of confidence in his ability and he’s playing extremely well right now,’’ Vaughn said. ``You are able to accept the shots that he takes (when he’s efficient). … His efficiency and what we can get while he’s on the floor and how that helps us, he’s had a pretty good understanding of what we are expecting.’’

Fournier had little idea what to expect when he moved from Paris to Denver in 2012 while pursuing his dream of playing in the NBA. He took English classes prior to the draft and again when he got to Denver. He speaks solid English now – even though Vucevic is quick to needle him about his heavy accent from time to time. Fournier and Vucevic – who grew up in Switzerland and Belgium – speak predominantly French in the Magic locker room much to the bewilderment of their American teammates.
  One thing Fournier figured out quickly upon his move to America – people here are generally supportive and were cheering for him to do well. He said he’s encountered that sentiment in both Denver and Orlando in his three NBA seasons.

``I realized (upon moving to the U.S.) that people are more friendly here than in Paris. Paris is a huge city and they don’t have a lot of time for you – kind of like New York,’’ Fournier said. ``When I got to Colorado I was surprised (with their hospitality). I was wondering, `Are they true? Or do they just want to be friends with me because I’m a basketball player? But the people in this country are very friendly.’’

Fournier got to see that first-hand in Orlando with Vaughn, as positive a coach as there is in the NBA. Vaughn travelled to Spain this past summer to support Fournier, who helped France earn its highest ever finish in the FIBA World Cup (third place). And being reminded early this season that he is wanted in Orlando and that the Magic players, coaches and front office believe in him did wonders for Fournier’s confidence. And he thinks that what he’s done so far is just the start for him.

``My role on the team has been great. Coach (Vaughn) has called a lot of plays for me and he’s put the ball in my hands. It’s just good to know that Coach (Vaughn) likes me and trusts me,’’ Fournier said. ``I still think I can do a lot better. I’m still learning the process. Of course, I’m pretty happy with what I’m doing as a player, but I feel like I can get a lot better.’’

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Fournier Making Most of New Opportunity in Orlando

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Fournier's Two-Handed Flush vs. Wolves

ORLANDO – Much like with the way he splits double-team traps in the middle of the floor, Orlando Magic guard Evan Fournier saw an opening, made a quick decision and was delighted with the result.

Just minutes after answering questions from approximately 40 University of Central Florida students majoring in French, Fournier was asked which task would be more daunting for him: Having the ball in his hands at the end of a tight basketball game or instead speaking English to a large group of people?

For Fournier, a native of suburban Paris, France, and still a somewhat skittish English speaker, the answer was a simple one.

``Definitely, it would be speaking English in front of a crowd,’’ Fournier said of having to potentially address a large group of English-only speakers. So it’s French anytime and every time? ``Hell yes,’’ Fournier said with a playful smile.

Fournier was in his element earlier this week when he and Magic standout center Nikola Vucevic participated in an informal question-and-answer session with French students from UCF. For more than an hour, Fournier and Vucevic fielded questions about their adjustments to life in the United States, the dedication that it took to become professional basketball players and their fast friendship because of their abilities to speak French on the court and in the Magic locker room.

Vucevic, 23, learned French after being born in Switzerland and living in Belgium for a period while his father was a professional basketball player. Vucevic considers Montenegro as his home country, but he still speaks English, French and Serbian fluently. He said he greatly enjoyed speaking French with the students and serving as a role model to those who look up to him.

``It was a chance for them to speak in French and we got to answer them in French, so it was a lot of fun,’’ said Vucevic, Orlando’s most dominant and consistent player this preseason. ``It felt like I was back in school, but I was actually the teacher a little bit. It was different, but fun.

``When I was growing up I looked up to a lot of different players. I looked up a lot to my dad because he was playing. But there were a lot of players, when I was growing up, who I wanted to be like and I wanted to be able to do what they do, signing autographs, taking pictures and walking around and having people come up and tell me they like what I do,’’ Vucevic said. ``Me being only 23 and that’s happening to me now, it’s something that I really appreciate. It makes me happy that I’m able to do what I love and people recognize my effort and what I do every day.’’

UCF French instructors, including Elizabeth Giltner, had students of all language levels ready questions in French and prepare themselves for conversations with the NBA players. The instructors plan to use video and audio clips of the question-and-answer session as a teaching tool with her classes in the future.

``We’re reconnaissants – as we would say in French – or very appreciative. We had the opportunity to have the Magic players come and talk to our students and to give them an opportunity to use French outside of the classroom, which can be quite rare,’’ Giltner said. ``So this was fantastic - that the players could let the students ask questions and put themselves out there with the language. … For our students to recognize and use the French that they’ve learned here and elsewhere, it’s fantastic. For the Magic players to give them that inspiration to reach that next level, it’s just wonderful.’’

One of the students who took inspiration from the question-and-answer session with Fournier and Vucevic was Pierce Collins, a UCF junior from Orlando who is majoring in French. Collins came to the class wearing a French soccer shirt and he showed off his language skills by peppering the players with questions in French. He said Fournier instantly became his favorite Magic player because of the guard’s willingness to take time out of his schedule to talk to the UCF students.

``As an athlete and a French student, this is probably the greatest thing that I ever could have had (in school),’’ Collins said. ``I’ve been a fan of basketball for a very long time and to have the chance to meet both professional athletes and guys who also speak French, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me. … I’m currently majoring in French, but clearly they gave me a lot of motivation to continue improving my language skills.’’

Vucevic, Orlando’s leading scorer this season, is an above-average passer for a 7-foot, 250-pound center, but his biggest assist of the season might be how he’s helped Fournier adjust to his new team. The Magic have scouted Fournier – who has played professionally in France since he was 16 years old – for years and they jumped at the chance to trade for him last June when Denver made him available.

Just prior to becoming the 20th pick of the 2012 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets, Fournier took English lessons so that he could communicate with his mostly American coaches and players. Fournier, who speaks fluent English and easily understands instructions from his Magic coaches, said it’s been comforting for him to have another player on the team with whom he can speak French – even if teammates occasionally give them a hard time.

``Guys tell us all of the time, `Yo, speak English.’ But it’s hard because I’m French, I speak French and Nik does, too,’’ said Fournier, a combo guard who has averaged has averaged 8 points, 2.3 assists and 1.2 steals this preseason for the Magic. ``It’s like if you go to Italy and carry a person with you who speaks English, you’re not speaking Italian because (English) is your native language. Nik helps me a lot and I’m just really glad that he’s here with me.’’

Added Vucevic: ``Whenever we speak, it’s in French. It would just be weird for us to speak in English because French is more natural to us. Guys are always like, `Why can’t you just speak English?’ But let’s say if Kyle (O’Quinn) went to France and he took Mo (Harkless) with him, he wouldn’t speak French to him; he would speak English. (French) is just more natural to us.’’

At the end of the session, Giltner led the students in a rendition of ``Happy Birthday’’ or ``Joyeux Anniversaire’’ in French to the two Magic players. Vucevic will turn 24 years old on Friday, while Fournier will be 22 next Wednesday.

``Allez, Magic,’’ Giltner said, referring to the phrase, ``Go Magic’’ in French.

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Vucevic, Fournier Share NBA Experiences with UCF French Students

ORLANDO -- Throughout the early stages of the Orlando Magic’s training camp, Evan Fournier and Nikola Vucevic have worked in concert on pick-and-roll plays with somewhat surprising success – surprising at least to the big man in those sets.

Occasionally, Fournier will use Vucevic’s hulking size on the screen to free himself for a layup at the rim. Other times, Fournier will fake rubbing off of Vucevic and cut behind his defender for another good look at the rim. And then there are the moments when Fournier uses the screen, draws the second defender over to him and feeds Orlando’s center for a dunk.

Thursday was just Orlando’s fourth practice of training camp, but Vucevic has already been won over by the flair and creativity in Fournier’s game. There’s always a feeling-out period with new players on a team, but the Magic big man admits to being shocked at just how well-rounded of a game that Fournier possesses.

``I honestly didn’t know that he could play the pick-and-roll so well,’’ Vucevic said. ``But he’s really good at it as far as coming off (the screen) and making the right play whether he shoots or passes. He’s a creative guy who can make the defense commit and make the right play. He’s a good player, he has a good basketball IQ and I’ve been impressed with him.’’

Fournier is in the process of proving himself to his new Magic teammates and the rest of the basketball world following his trade from the Denver Nuggets to Orlando in June. His play surged late in World Cup action over the summer as he help to lift France to a best-ever, third-place finish in the event.

Now, Fournier feels as if he’s ended up in a perfect storm of sorts in Orlando.

With a young and athletic roster in Orlando, the 21-year-old and 6-foot-6 Fournier should blend in perfectly. He’s in a spot where the franchise covets his versatility and creativity – something that wasn’t always the case with the Nuggets. And he’s on a team where he’ll be given the ball and asked to make plays out of pick-and-roll sets – as he’s already done time and again in training camp with the 7-foot Vucevic.

``I’m super excited here,’’ Fournier said. ``I’m happy that (Magic) Coach (Jacque Vaughn) is going to let me handle the ball a little bit more. That’s what I really like to do, and I’m just really thankful.’’

Fournier, a native of suburban Paris, is also really thankful that he has Vucevic on the roster because of the big man’s ability to speak French fluently. Borislav Vucevic played professional basketball for 24 years in Belgium, Switzerland and Yugoslavia, so Nikola learned to speak French during his childhood years. Vucevic is a good passer for a big man, but his ability to speak French with Fournier might go down as his biggest assist of the season.

Fournier took English lessons prior to entering the 2012 NBA Draft, and he fortified his grasp of the language with the help from occasional tutors during his two NBA seasons in Denver. His dressing stall in the Magic locker room is near Vucevic’s and it’s not uncommon for the two of them to converse about basketball or life in French.

``That’s huge for me because I can speak my mother language,’’ said Fournier, who maintains close friendships with other French NBA players such as Tony Parker, Boris Diaw and Nicolas Batum. ``I think my English is pretty good, but speaking without thinking about what you are saying, you know, it’s just different. And with Nik, we have the same game because we’ve played in Europe and we understand each other.’’

Vaughn went to great lengths to better understand Fournier last month when he traveled to Spain for the World Cup to watch the guard play for France. Fournier struggled early in the tournament, but came on late and had the key pass to Diaw for a 3-pointer that keyed France’s stunning upset of heavily favored Spain.

Vaughn took Fournier to dinner in Spain and the two ultimately spent more time talking about likes and dislikes and life than they did actual Xs and Os.

``I was there enough to not bother him because he was focusing on his National Team, but I was there enough to break bread and welcome him to Orlando,’’ Vaughn joked.
  Fournier said the meeting with Vaughn meant so much more to him than simply enjoying some free tapas on the coach’s tab.

``We talked about life in general and what I like to do,’’ Fournier said. ``It felt great to talk to my coach because the first three games (of the World Cup) I didn’t play very well and I missed a lot of shots. It just gave me confidence that even if I don’t play great, the (Magic) coach has my back and he likes me and pushes me. So it was great.’’

Fournier’s two seasons in the NBA so far have varied dramatically. As a rookie playing under veteran coach George Karl, Fournier was used primarily as a ball-handler and a creator in pick-and-roll plays. Last season, with the Nuggets under the direction of rookie head coach Brian Shaw, Fournier was mostly used as a spot-up shooter and he responded to that role by making 89 of 237 3-pointers (37.6 percent).

Fournier showed off some of his dazzling potential in last season’s final month, pumping in 26 points against Houston and 23 points versus Utah. In the April 6 loss to the Rockets, Fournier came off the bench and drilled nine of 16 field goals and six 3-pointers in the 26-point effort.

Fournier made at least three 3-pointers in 11 games last season. The finest game of his NBA career came in February when he torched the Sacramento Kings for 27 points, four 3-pointers, five assists and four rebounds.

In Orlando, he’s extremely happy that he will be back in a role where he will be given the ball and asked to make plays. And because of his versatility, he can play shooting guard when Victor Oladipo, Elfrid Payton or Luke Ridnour are running the point, or he can direct the offense when needed.

``He’s a basketball player. You feel comfortable with him bringing the basketball up the floor and making decisions in the half-court,’’ Vaughn said. ``He can do multiple things and not only spotting up and shooting. He can create for his teammates.

``I think he has a great sense of shot selection,’’ Vaughn said. ``Throughout our practices, he’s had a mixture of everything whether it was driving to the basket or spotting up and making threes. He’s shown a consistent array of basketball understanding.’’

What makes Fournier the happiest of all is that the Magic thought highly enough of him to trade away Arron Afflalo and put him in spots where he can make plays with the ball in his hands. Riding the momentum from his solid play with the French National Team and the feel-good vibes of being on a young team in Orlando, Fournier believes that he is ready to play the best basketball of his life with the Magic.

``It’s a great feeling and that’s what you want as a player,’’ said Fournier, referring to the knowledge that the Magic have coveted him as a player for years. ``They know more stuff about me than I know. They know my percentages from the free throw line and from in the paint. They know a lot about me and that’s says a lot. I’m just so excited to be here.’’

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Fournier Impressing His Teammates

ORLANDO -- Jameer Nelson initiated the Orlando Magic’s offense for the past 10 seasons, but now a new era is about to dawn as it relates to the team’s all-important point guard position.

Will it be Victor Oladipo, who showed tremendous flashes of greatness last season, assuming the starting point guard role? Will it be electrifying rookie Elfrid Payton, the Magic’s draft-night acquisition who showed off his vast potential with his standout play in the summer league? Or could it be dark horse candidate Evan Fournier, a newcomer who has intrigued the Magic with his creativity as a playmaker and his ability to knock down open shots?

Training camp will ultimately decide which player head coach Jacque Vaughn picks as the Magic’s successor to Nelson at the point guard position. Nelson spent 10 consecutive years in a Magic uniform – something that only he and Nick Anderson have done – but the team and point guard agreed to part ways back in July. To put it bluntly, Nelson wanted to play for a more veteran team and the Magic were eager to inject some young legs and energy back into their point guard position.

Vaughn, a point guard himself during his 12 years as a NBA player, knows a thing or two about the position and knows that picking the right point guard will be important to the team’s success. Vaughn doesn’t want to restrict Oladipo to just one role so he’ll continue to utilize his versatility and play him at both positions. And history suggests that Vaughn won’t rush young players, meaning that Payton (20 years old) and Fournier (21 years old) will likely be brought along slowly.

Orlando also has a veteran option in Luke Ridnour, who is eager to prove that he still has plenty of game left in his 33-year-old legs. Regardless of which point guard prevails as the starter, the Magic figure to have plenty of explosiveness, fearlessness and depth at the position.

The Magic hold Media Day on Monday and open training camp on Tuesday at the Amway Center. Orlando begins the preseason schedule on Oct. 7 in Miami and the first home preseason game is Oct. 15 against Brazilian powerhouse, Flamengo. The regular-season opener is Oct. 28 at New Orleans, while the home opener will be two nights later (Oct. 30) against the Washington Wizards.

With the opening of camp just days away, OrlandoMagic.com is breaking down each position with some in-depth analysis. For a look back at analysis of the center, power forward, small forward and shooting guard positions, click HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE.

Today, we break down the Magic’s strengths and weaknesses at the point guard position:

PROJECTED STARTER: Elfrid Payton (2013-14 stats at Louisiana-Lafayette: 35 games, 19.2 ppg., 6 rpg., 5.9 apg., 2.3 spg., 50.9 FG percentage, 25.9 3FG percentage, 60.9 FT percentage).

PROJECTED RESERVES: Luke Ridnour (2013-14 stats with Bobcats: 25 games, 4 ppg., 1.4 rpg., 2.2 apg., 38.9 FG percentage, 30 3FG percentage, 57.1 FT percentage); Victor Oladipo (2013-14 stats: 80 games, 13.8 ppg., 4.1 rpg., 4.1 apg., 1.61 spg., 41.9 FG percentage, 32.7 3FG percentage, 78 FT percentage); Evan Fournier (2013-14 stats with Nuggets: 76 games, 8.4 ppg., 2.7 rpg., 1.5 apg., 41.9 FG percentage, 37.6 3FG percentage, 75.6 FT percentage).

OVERVIEW: The Magic went out an addressed their need for young legs and a dynamic playmaking presence at the point guard position on draft night when they made a bold move to acquire Elfrid Payton. The Magic are big believers in the fearlessness, size and tenacity of Payton and those values shone through during an impressive summer league showing. Payton basically lives in the paint and at the free throw line because of his ability to beat defenders off the dribble and cause havoc once he gets into the heart of the defense. His ball-handling skills will be tested by veteran guards and teams will also back off of him at times and dare him to make open jump shots. But his ability to breakdown defenses, make others better with his drive-and-dish game and his talent pressuring the ball make him the Magic’s point guard of the future. It might be downright foolish to list him as the starting point guard heading into training camp, but it’s a hunch that he will be there by season’s end because of his toughness and passing skills. Victor Oladipo will still play plenty of point guard in addition to playing on the wing because the Magic want to keep the ball in his hands so that he can attack defenses. Oladipo must be better with the ball and with decisions this season and cut down on his 3.2 turnovers a game. The Magic believe that Evan Fournier can play as many as three positions and they will be extremely comfortable with him initiating pick-and-roll plays with his underrated passing skills. Luke Ridnour is more than an insurance signing because he still has plenty to offer a team in terms of setting up others with passes. He’ll factor into the rotation at times during the season because of his savvy and quickness.

STRENGTHS: Orlando is hoping to become a top 10 team this season in defensive efficiency and the chances of that happening certainly increased with the addition of Payton to Oladipo. Playing the two ball-hawking guards together in the same backcourt could be nightmarish for foes. Payton has great size and length for a point guard and he’s already shown quite a knack for being able to poke the ball away from opposing point guards. If Oladipo and Payton can hound the opposition, force turnovers and keep foes in front of them, the Magic have a chance to become a really good defensive team this season. The hope is that a suffocating defense will carry the team through any offensive struggles and it will jump-start the running game.

WEAKNESSES: While still making the transition to the point guard position, Oladipo often piled up turnovers in bunches last season. Similarly, Payton had his own turnover problems during the summer league while making the adjustment to the NBA game. Foes will intentionally pressure them all over the floor this season in a hope of forcing turnovers and disrupting the Magic offense. The Magic are hoping that a year of experience will allow Oladipo to avoid some of the pitfalls that he encountered last season while overpenetrating, rushing himself or trying to make the ``home run’’ pass. Oladipo, Payton and Fournier all have great creativity when it comes to passing the ball, but the hope is that they will simply rely on the safe plays and stay away from gift-wrapping the ball to the other team.

EXPECTATIONS: The Magic’s overall versatility will allow head coach Jacque Vaughn to play a variety of lineups and rotations this season, and the point guard position is included in that. Oladipo and Fournier will play both guards, but the team wants to keep the ball in their hands as much as possible because of their abilities to attack the paint off the dribble. The Magic could very well ease Payton into the flow because of his small-school background and rookie status, but he is clearly the future starting point guard of the team. He will undoubtedly struggle at times with the physicality and speed of the game and the grind of the NBA’s marathon schedule, but he has the kind of size, vision and toughness to become the team’s primary playmaker for several years to come. Having Vaughn – a former point guard himself – will be a huge asset for Payton, who already shown a great willingness to learn all that he can to smooth out the transition to the NBA game.

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2014-15 Position-by-Position Breakdown: Point Guard

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Projecting Most Improved Magic Players in 2014-15

ORLANDO -- There were times last season – the triple-overtime effort against Chicago, the OT thriller versus New York and the home win against Oklahoma City particularly come to mind – when guard Victor Oladipo would take over games with his hustle and will the Orlando Magic to success.

And to hear Oladipo tell it, those kinds of efforts were just the start of something bigger ahead for him and his Magic teammates.

``I feel like I’m just scratching the surface of being the player that I can become,’’ Oladipo said earlier this summer. ``I can be so much better than I was as a rookie. I just have to keep working hard and keep improving every day.’’

Oladipo improved all throughout a highly successful rookie season, and Magic fans can’t wait to see what heights he can hit this year. The hope is that Oladipo’s improvement, combined with the strides made by other young players and the addition of several high-character veteran players, will help the Magic become a much-improved team in the season ahead.

The Magic traded their leading scorer from the past two seasons, Arron Afflalo, in part to open up more playing time for Oladipo at the shooting guard position. They acquired promising guard Evan Fournier in that Afflalo trade, signed Ben Gordon in free agency and claimed veteran Willie Green off waivers to bolster the depth behind Oladipo at shooting guard.

That mix of players should all Orlando tremendous versatility and depth at the shooting guard position as head coach Jacque Vaughn mixes and matches lineups. Vaughn prefers to have multiple ball-handlers and pick-and-roll initiators on the floor at all times and versatile players such as Oladipo and Fournier will create a host of options for the Magic.

The Magic will hold Media Day on Sept. 29 and open training camp on Sept. 30 at the Amway Center. Orlando begins the preseason schedule on Oct. 7 in Miami and the first home preseason game is Oct. 15 against Brazilian powerhouse, Flamengo. The regular-season opener is Oct. 28 at New Orleans, while the home opener will be two nights later (Oct. 30) against the Washington Wizards.

With the opening of camp less than two weeks away, OrlandoMagic.com is breaking down each position with some in-depth analysis. For a look back at analysis of the center, power forward and small forward positions, click HERE, HERE and HERE. Today, we break down the Magic’s strengths and weaknesses at the shooting guard position:

PROJECTED STARTER: Victor Oladipo (2013-14 stats: 80 games, 13.8 ppg., 4.1 rpg., 4.1 apg., 1.61 spg., 41.9 FG percentage, 32.7 3FG percentage, 78 FT percentage).

PROJECTED RESERVES: Ben Gordon (2013-14 stats: 19 games, 5.2 ppg., 1.4 rpg., 1.1 apg., 34.3 FG percentage, 27.6 3FG percentage, 81 FT percentage); Evan Fournier (2013-14 stats: 76 games, 8.4 ppg., 2.7 rpg., 1.5 apg., 41.9 FG percentage, 37.6 3FG percentage, 75.6 FT percentage); Willie Green (2013-14 stats: 55 games, 5 ppg., 1.4 rpg., 0.9 apg., 37.6 FG percentage, 33.9 3FG percentage, 82.4 FT percentage); Devyn Marble (2013-14 stats with the University of Iowa: XX games, 17 ppg., 3.6 apg.).

OVERVIEW: In Oladipo, Gordon and Fournier, the Magic have three starting-quality players and veteran Willie Green has been a starter at the position for much of his career. Oladipo will play some shooting guard and some point guard and the Magic want him to worry more about playing hard and playing efficiently than they do him being so concerned with what position that he’s playing. Oladipo proved himself to be a game-changer at times last season with his incredible energy level, hustle and high basketball IQ. If he can become a better shooter and cut down on his turnovers – something he worked hard to do this summer during drills – he should be able to make a leap this season.

Gordon is playing with something to prove after a dismal stint in Charlotte and his opportunity in Orlando could be his final one in the NBA if he doesn’t work out here. He’s hungry and motivated to show those in the NBA that he can still be an elite scorer and a player that Orlando can count on late in games and late in the shot clock for big baskets. Fournier, who was acquired on draft night in a trade with Denver, is a versatile guard who can play both guard spots and he’s as good a shooter as he is a creator with the ball in his hands. Fournier, who played well for France in World Cup play despite limited minutes, could very well be the dark horse player on the Magic to have a breakout season. As for Green, he is a high character person who will be a mentor to many of the Magic’s young players. Green also still has plenty of game left in the tank and he’ll push the players ahead of him with his competitiveness and basketball smarts. Rookie Devyn Marble was impressive in Summer League play with his toughness and his ability to play the shooting guard or small forward positions.

STRENGTHS: Magic coach Jacque Vaughn loves having players who can play multiple positions and he puts a high value on rotations that feature multiple players who can initiate pick-and-roll plays. Oladipo and Fournier will give Vaughn two players who can play either off the ball on the wing or with the ball at the point. And Gordon, a former Sixth Man of the Year award winner, is just as comfortable coming off the bench as he is starting. The versatility and flexibility of this group will allow Vaughn the freedom to mix and match rotations and ride the hot hand throughout games.

WEAKNESSES: Outside shooting is going to be a big concern for the Magic, just as it was much of the past two years. One of the reasons that Orlando signed Channing Frye – a career 38 percent shooter from 3-point range – was to address the squad’s outside shooting. Oladipo is much better as a driver than as a shooter, but he’s worked hard on his form and he showed signs of major progress while competing on USA Basketball’s Select Team in Las Vegas in July. Gordon has been an elite 3-point shooter in years past, but his effectiveness has dropped off dramatically in recent years. Orlando will need him to be a knock-down shooter from the perimeter to keep defenses from collapsing inside on center Nikola Vucevic and small forward Tobias Harris. Last season in Denver, under first-year head coach Brian Shaw, Fournier played mostly off the ball and dramatically improved his 3-point shooting. He shot 40.7 percent from the arc and hit at least three 3-pointers in 11 games. He had games with 23 and 26 points late last season, hitting six 3-pointers in the 26-point effort against the Houston Rockets.

EXPECTATIONS: Oladipo handled everything thrown at him as a rookie – coming off the bench and starting; playing point guard and shooting guard; big wins and bad losses – with incredible grace and savvy. Now, he could be poised for a big season after getting more comfortable with his Magic teammates and the NBA’s physical style of play. Orlando’s additions of veterans such as Frye, Gordon and Green will only help Oladipo’s development in becoming the best player that he can possibly be. A year from now, Fournier could be looked at as an absolute steal for the Magic because of his talent level and creativity with the ball in his hands. He’ll get plenty of time at both positions and could be a full-time starter for the Magic by midseason. Magic executives have been pleased with the work that Gordon has put in this summer and they feel that he will have a big bounce-back season in Orlando. If all three players stay healthy, the shooting guard position could be a position of great strength for the Magic.

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2014-15 Position-by-Position Breakdown: Shooting Guard

ORLANDO -- The outcome of the games is insignificant but just about everything else during the preseason has implications. Amongst the returnees, who will demonstrate the most improvement from last season? Amongst the newcomers that arrived via free agency or trades, who will blend in the best? Amongst the rookies, who will appear the most ready to have an immediate impact?

Perhaps it is cliché to say, but the exhibition schedule actually has value and every coach and player needs that time to explore all options. It will allow Jacque Vaughn to experiment with different lineups. It will give Aaron Gordon and Elfrid Payton a taste of the big leagues. It will give Victor Oladipo and Tobias Harris a chance to juggle multiple positions and defensive assignments.

Though the preseason is important in some way for every player on the roster, who has the most to gain/lose from it? Watch a debate below and vote on whom you think has the most to prove in the preseason.

Who do you think has the most prove in the preseason?

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Great Debate: Who Has Most to Prove in Preseason?

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Due to Tropical Storm Nicole, the NBA has announced that the Dallas Mavericks at Orlando Magic game on Wednesday, November 9 will tip-off at 5:30 PM. Amway Center doors open at 4:30 PM.