201718playerreviews

Josh Cohen

ORLANDO - At times last season – one that was often rocky for Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac because of the bevy of injuries that he suffered – veteran guard Arron Afflalo would put the rail-thin rookie to the test.

When the Magic would technically have a day off on the schedule here and there, Afflalo would press Isaac as to his plans. In not so many words, Afflalo would stress to Isaac that rookies don’t get days off during the NBA season. And when the Magic’s season ended at a disappointing 25-57, Afflalo had another pointed message for the rookie who appeared in just 27 games as a way of motivating him for what figures to be a big offseason.

``He’s so humble and he’s a very smart kid for his age, but for him it’s just about how much can he give to the game? How much passion does he have for the game?’’ Afflalo asked. ``He’s 6-11 or 7-feet with handles, can shoot, has great defensive instincts and has the potential to be a great player, but he has to make up his mind how much heart and desire he wants to give to the game to maximize his tools. If he does that, he’ll be one of the building blocks for some great times here.’’

Isaac, the No. 6 pick in last June’s NBA Draft, showed plenty of flashes of that potential this past season, but much of his momentum and rhythm were sapped by injuries to his ankles and feet. Isaac, who missed nearly twice as many games as played in, knows he is heading into an offseason where it will be vitally important for him to commit himself fully to getting stronger and more skilled so he doesn’t have a repeat of his rookie season.

``This summer is huge for me and huge for this team and where we go moving forward in terms of who comes in and who goes,’’ Isaac said. ``It’s a big summer for the entire Orlando Magic organization and I think it will go well because the people up top have a clear head in terms of what they want to do and so do I.

``I understand that (commitment to the game) and I don’t think (teammates) mean anything else by that when they say that,’’ Isaac said, referring to Afflalo’s pointed pep talks. ``In this league, you have to dedicate yourself to becoming who you want to be. I understand that because I’ve been here, and I’ve worked every summer to be in the position that I am today. That’s what I’m going to continue to do – work, progress and continue to move forward. So, I’m excited.’’

Isaac played a major role in the Magic’s strong start to the season, giving the team the long-armed defense that it desperately needed on the perimeter and at the rim. However, an ankle injury on Nov. 11 – one suffered after blocking a shot – wrecked much of the next 4 ½ months for the rookie. He got back fully by March 2 and delivered an impressive 10-game stretch where he contributed 47 points, 35 rebounds, 19 steals and 14 blocked shots before the injury bug bit him again.

In what proved to be his final appearance of the season – April 1 in Atlanta – Isaac showed off the confidence and potential the Magic had been seeking from him. He had 15 points, four rebounds, three 3-pointers and a steal before hobbling off after accidentally stepping on the foot of a foe and twisting his ankle.

It was the kind of performance that showed members of the Magic that Isaac can someday be great – as long as he uses this summer to improve his body and his skill.

``The thing about Jonathan is that he’s such a great kid, he doesn’t have an ego, he listens, he wants to be better and he wants to be great,’’ veteran Magic point guard D.J. Augustin said. ``Those are good qualities that he has and he’s already ahead of the curve. For him, it’s just about getting stronger and getting that confidence. Obviously, he missed much of the season with injuries, so it’s just about him getting that chance to play and getting a full season under his belt. But he has a bright future.’’

Here’s a more in-depth breakdown of Isaac’s 2017-18 season with the Magic:

PLAYER: Jonathan IsaacPOSITION: Power forward/small forwardNBA SEASONS: 1AGE: 20

2017-18 SEASON STATS: 27 games (10 starts), 5.4 ppg., 3.7 rpg., 3.8 apg., 1.22 spg., 1.11 bpg., 23.1 mpg., 37.9 percent FG, 34.8 percent 3FG, 76 percent FT.

2017-18 SEASON HIGHS: 15 points, April 1 at Atlanta; eight rebounds, Oct. 18 vs. Miami; three assists, Oct. 20 at Brooklyn; five steals, March 20 vs. Toronto; three blocks, three times, most recently March 3 vs. Memphis; 29 minutes, Nov. 5 vs. Boston.

WHAT WENT RIGHT: Isaac had a huge impact on Orlando’s strong start to the season with his tremendous play on the defensive end. The Magic opened the season 6-2 and later 8-4 and ranked sixth overall in the NBA in defensive efficiency in that time – largely because of Isaac’s ability to guard on the perimeter and protect the rim with his shot-blocking skills. In the 12 games that he appeared in after the all-star break, Isaac shot the 3-pointer better (39.3 percent) and again proved himself to be a next-level defender with his shot-blocking (1.3 bpg.) and ball-hawking (1.9 spg.). In his final game of his rookie season, he scored a career-best 15 points by drilling three 3-pointers.

WHAT WENT WRONG: Isaac missed nearly twice as many games (51) as he played in (27) as a rookie. Injuries to both ankles and a left foot strain limited him to just two stretches where he played at least double-digit games and kept him from establishing much rhythm throughout the season. Isaac is well aware that he must put on more weight and add more strength this offseason so that he can hopefully avoid the injuries that wrecked his rookie season.

Also, Isaac must become a much more skilled offensive player – both on the perimeter and in the post. Foes are going to sag off of him and dare him to make 3-point shots until he can prove that he can consistently make them. Also, he needs to be able to punish smaller defenders in the post when they switch onto him in pick-and-roll plays. The Magic are hopeful that an offseason of work will give Isaac the strength and confidence to improve those skills.

FUTURE ROLE WITH MAGIC: Isaac was the No. 6 pick of last June’s Draft because the Magic envision him as the poster boy for what elite-level defenders should look like going forward. Because he has the length to defend at the rim, the lateral quickness to defend on the perimeter and the instincts to anticipate defensively, he is everything the Magic want in a stopper on that end of the floor. The next step is adding weight, strength and toughness this offseason so that he can stay on the floor for 25-30 minutes a game next season.

Then, there’s this: Isaac grew from 6-foot-10 to 6-foot-11 this season and doctors still say his growth plates are ``wide open.’’ Some feel he could eventually grow to be as tall as 7-foot-1 ½ -- length that would potentially make him even more of a menace defensively.

As skilled as Isaac is defensively, he still has a ways to go on the offensive end. His shot, his handles and his playmaking all need development. The Magic are confident that because of his advanced maturity, smarts and strong work ethic that he will make a big jump next season following a summer of work and skill development.

Note: The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Orlando Magic. All opinions expressed by John Denton are solely his own and do not reflect the opinions of the Orlando Magic or their Basketball Operations staff, partners or sponsors.

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2017-18 Player Review: Jonathan Isaac

ORLANDO - D.J. Augustin has played for eight NBA teams, he was once waived early in a season and he’s been dealt twice midseason at trade deadline.

Those experiences have taught him to be ready for anything that comes along, and they prepared him for the changes that made this past season while playing for the Orlando Magic.

When incumbent starter Elfrid Payton strained his hamstring in the second game of the season, Augustin dutifully stepped in and was a primary reason in the Magic ripping off a promising 6-2 start. Then, when Orlando ultimately faded and Payton was traded to the Phoenix Suns in February, Augustin was ready for an increased workload and thrived as the Magic’s starter.

Whether or not Augustin is the Magic’s answer long-term as the starting point guard remains to be seen. What is certain is that the 30-year-old point guard will be ready to go regardless of what his role is going forward.

``I’ve been in the NBA for 10 years and I’ve had great seasons and seasons when I didn’t do so well, but it’s all about opportunity,’’ Augustin said. ``Sometimes, you play more minutes and obviously get more opportunities and that allows you to play well. Sometimes, you don’t have those same opportunities and it’s harder to get that rhythm. All of that plays a factor. This past season, I was blessed with opportunities and I tried to take advantage of all of them and play the best that I could.’’

Orlando could go into the June 21 NBA Draft looking to select a dynamic, young point guard to serve as the team’s primary playmaker going forward. Or it could stick with Augustin, who was better as a starter (36 games, 11.7 ppg., 5.0 apg., 45.9 FG percentage, 42.3 3FG percentage, 27.5 minutes) than as a reserve (39 games, 8.8 ppg., 2.7 apg., 44.3 FG percentage, 41.5 3FG percentage, 19.7 minutes).

Augustin feels he can handle the starting point guard role for the Magic if he’s tabbed to do so, but he will also be ready to be a steadying, veteran force off the bench. At this point in his career, Augustin said his mindset is centered around consistency and keeping himself ready regardless of what is thrown at him.

``At the end of the day, I know what I need to work on because I’ve been doing this a long time,’’ said Augustin, who recently completed his second season with the Magic. ``I know what I need to get better at and it’s just about taking care of my body. I want to come back in better shape than I did for this season. Every player is different, but for me it’s about body maintenance and finding little parts of my game where I can get better.’’

Here’s a more in-depth breakdown of Augustin’s 2017-18 season with the Magic:

PLAYER: D.J. AugustinPOSITION: Point guardNBA SEASONS: 10AGE: 30

2017-18 SEASON STATS: 75 games (36 starts), 10.2 ppg., 2.1 rpg., 3.8 apg., 0.7 spg., 23.5 mpg., 45.2 percent FG, 41.9 percent 3FG, 86.8 percent FT.

2017-18 SEASON HIGHS: 32 points, March 14 vs. Milwaukee; nine rebounds, March 24 vs. Phoenix; 10 assists, three times, most recently March 24 vs. Phoenix; three steals, six times, most recently Feb. 26 at Oklahoma City; 41 minutes, March 2 vs. Detroit.

WHAT WENT RIGHT: Following a somewhat shaky first year with the Magic, Augustin had a tremendous bounce-back season – both as a veteran reserve and a starter.

In 36 games as a starter, Augustin averaged 11.7 points and 5.0 assists a game while shooting 45.9 percent from the floor and 42.3 percent from 3-point range in 27.5 minutes. In 39 games as a reserve, Augustin was steady with 8.8 points and 2.7 assists a game while shooting 44.3 percent from the floor and 41.5 percent from 3-point range in 19.7 minutes. Also, Augustin finished the season with a flurry, averaging 12.8 points and 5.0 assists while shooting 48.9 percent from the floor and 45.3 percent from 3-point range in his 25 games after the break for the NBA All-Star Game.

Augustin finished the season ranked 14thin the NBA in free throw percentage and 16th overall in 3-point accuracy. He led the team in scoring twice and in assists 25 times.

WHAT WENT WRONG: Augustin is still something of a liability on the defensive end because of his size. Opponents routinely try and get Augustin in pick-and-roll plays so that they can get larger players matched up on the 6-foot point guard. Those switches tend to cause major problems for the Magic defensively.

As good as Augustin is as a shooter, he isn’t the natural playmaker that the Magic need. Whereas most of the NBA’s best point guards get in the lane for their own baskets or to kick the ball out for open 3-pointers, Augustin often has a shoot-first mentality. Too often, his lack of size is a detriment in the paint when he tries to finish at the rim.

FUTURE ROLE WITH MAGIC: Augustin and fellow veteran point guard Shelvin Mack were steady and solid all season for the Magic – and, at times, the team’s best players. However, both are better suited as reserves at this stage of their careers. With that thought in mind, the Magic are likely to seek another starter at point guard – either in the NBA Draft or in free agency in July.

Regardless of his role, Augustin is still an extremely important piece to the Magic because of his professionalism and his dead-eye shooting. This past season, his overall shooting percentage (45.2 percent) was the highest of his career, while his 3-point accuracy (41.9 percent) was the second-best mark of his career. In a time when 3-point shooting has never been more valuable and sought after in the NBA, the Magic would be wise to keep Augustin in the regular rotation because of the threat that he poses from the outside.

Augustin has two years remaining on his contract with the Magic and the odds are that he is still on the Orlando roster next season because of his professionalism and shooting talent. Coaches love having veteran point guards and even if the Magic add a young point guard as their starter, Augustin could be the perfect mentor going forward.

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2017-18 Player Review: D.J. Augustin

ORLANDO - Following a rocky first two years with the Orlando Magic, forward Mario Hezonja cleared up the questions about his worthiness as an NBA player with a solid 2017-18 season.

The only question now is about where Hezonja’s future lies in the NBA.

When Hezonja struggled in the preseason – both on the court and with the health of his troublesome left knee – the Magic declined to pick up the option for the forward’s fourth NBA season. Ultimately, as Hezonja got healthier and got more comfortable in his role with the Magic, his play finally flourished. He still has yet to reach his full potential and the expectation of a player selected fifth overall in the 2015 NBA Draft, but things are suddenly looking up for the 6-foot-8, 220-pound forward who is only 22 years old.

Hezonja will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, meaning he will have to decide if he wants to continue his progress in Orlando or head to another team where more playing time might be certain. He said, without question, he favors the Magic because he considers Orlando home, but his decision will ultimately be one that is based on finances and his role.

``Playing time,’’ Hezonja said when asked what he would be looking for in free agency. ``I (said publicly) in December and after the all-star break that (Orlando) is my number one option and then after that, I will see what is going on. … I just want to speak about facts and in July we will see everything more clearly.’’

By most statistical measures, Hezonja had a career year after nearly doubling his scoring average from the previous season and averaging personal best marks in scoring (9.6), rebounding (3.7), assists (1.4), steals (1.1), minutes (22.1) and games played (75). Still, Hezonja struggled defensively before settling in at power forward and his shooting (44.2 percent overall and 33.7 percent from 3-point range) and decision-making often left lots to be desired.

Hezonja was somewhat irked that head coach Frank Vogel was fired a day after the Magic completed a disappointing 25-57 season. However, Hezonja seemed to lend some insight into his future plans by offering up some ideas of what kind of coach he’d prefer to play for with the Magic if his future lies in Orlando.

``Tough, very tough, especially because we have a younger group than most teams,’’ he said. ``I think that we need a guy that is going to really ask us to be tough and will be tough on us on the court and off it. We need a coach that won’t care about our players’ feelings and be really strict with us. Whoever that is, I don’t know that yet. But I’m sure that Jeff and John are going to pick something in that circle because that’s what we need.’’

Here’s a more in-depth breakdown of Hezonja’s 2017-18 season with the Magic:

PLAYER: Mario HezonjaPOSITION: Power forward/small forwardNBA SEASONS: 3AGE: 23

2017-18 SEASON STATS: 75 games (30 starts), 9.6 ppg., 3.7 rpg., 1.4 apg., 1.1 spg., 22.1 mpg., 44.2 percent FG, 33.7 percent 3FG, 81.9 percent FT.

2017-18 SEASON HIGHS: 28 points, Dec. 17 at Detroit; 10 rebounds, three times, most recently Feb. 14 vs. Charlotte; six assists, two times, most recently April 11 vs. Washington; four steals, two times, most recently March 24 vs. Phoenix; three blocks, five times, most recently April 4 vs. Dallas; 39 minutes, twice, most recently March 24 vs. Phoenix.

WHAT WENT RIGHT: With the Magic beset by injuries and left with no place else to turn, Hezonja got his chance to shine in January, February, March and April and he showed flashes of being the multi-talented player that Orlando was hoping for when it drafted him three years earlier.

After averaging 10.8 points in January, Hezonja played the best basketball of his career in February while averaging 15.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.2 steals and 1.5 assists in 11 games. However, the mid-February returns of Aaron Gordon and Nikola Vucevic meant Hezonja was back in a reserve role and that seemed to sap much of the momentum he built up prior to the NBA All-Star break.

He had a career night on Dec. 17, battering the Detroit Pistons for 28 points, eight 3-pointers, six rebounds and three steals in a loss. Surprisingly, he wouldn’t score 20 points in a game again until February when he did it four times – three of them coming in a row (23, 24 and 21 points) from Feb. 10-14.

Hezonja finished the season with a flourish, scoring double digits in his final seven games.

WHAT WENT WRONG: For years, Hezonja has been miscast as a spot-up shooter, but he’s often failed to show much consistency at all as a 3-point shooter at the NBA level. For the season, he shot just 33.7 percent from beyond the arc – a drastically substandard number for someone of his supposed shooting talent. He shot better than 40 percent just twice during the season (40.4 percent in February and 42.1 in April) and failed to connect on at least 30 percent of his threes in two other months (23.1 percent in November and 22.6 percent in March).

Also, because of his struggles defensively on the perimeter, he basically can only play the power forward position now. That’s a problem on a Magic roster that is already loaded with young talent at that position.

FUTURE ROLE WITH MAGIC: NBA scouts from various teams continued to be intrigued with Hezonja all season despite his mostly up-and-down play. Clearly, he has talent, size and confidence, but questions persist as to whether he can ever put a full season together and what size of a role he can handle. In all likelihood, another team will offer Hezonja a multi-year contract worth more than the Magic can offer, and he will head elsewhere to play next season. But do not discount his love for Central Florida, his comfort level with the Magic and his willingness to become an integral part of the turnaround in Orlando. Hezonja desperately wants a bigger role on a team and, because he has had his biggest success at the power forward position in today’s small-ball NBA era, his path to more playing time in Orlando could be blocked by Aaron Gordon and Jonathan Isaac. Finally comfortable and confident in his abilities at this level, Hezonja figures to be a solid NBA contributor for years to come. The only question now is where that will happen.

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2017-18 Player Review: Mario Hezonja

ORLANDO - For anyone looking for signs that the Orlando Magic collectively have a sharp eye for talent and know just how to develop it, consider what guard Jonathon Simmons did in his first season in blue and black pinstripes.

Simmons, a third-year pro, doubled his previous career high in scoring (13.9), while also setting new personal marks for rebounds (3.5), assists (2.5), steals (0.9) and minutes (29.4) in his first season with the Magic.

None of that would have been possible had Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman and GM John Hammond not acted swiftly last July when the San Antonio Spurs surprisingly renounced their rights to the 6-foot-6, 195-pound guard, making him an unrestricted free agent. Two days later, the Magic signed Simmons to a free-agent contract, giving them a tough and talented two-way player with which to build around going forward.

Simmons, 28, backed up the Magic’s faith in him by delivering his finest season as a pro. In Orlando, he got significantly more minutes and more opportunities, and he produced at a high level. He led the team in scoring 14 times while posting two 30-point games and 13 20-point efforts.

``I’m proud of myself, it was a good year and I don’t regret any of it,’’ Simmons said, looking back on his season. ``It was just a matter of getting better and it’s about looking forward now.’’

Simmons’ career-best night came on March 14 against Milwaukee when he poured in 35 points and hit seven 3-pointers, but it was his effort on Feb. 6 against Cleveland that might have been even more impressive. He had 22 of his 34 points in the third quarter, helping the Magic turn a 21-point deficit into a 116-98 victory.

The only negative for Simmons – besides a mid-season lull where he seemed to tire from his additional playing time – was missing the final 12 games with a thumb injury that isn’t considered to be serious going forward. Simmons said that while he is proud of what he accomplished, he can’t fully enjoy it because of the Magic’s dismal 25-52 record. He is hopeful that will change in the future as he and his Magic teammates continue to improve together.

``I think I opened a lot of eyes wider, but because we didn’t win enough games, it’s hard to be able to have any individual pride about myself,’’ Simmons said candidly. ``It’s a team game and I’m just looking forward from here.’’

Here’s a more in-depth breakdown of Simmons’ 2017-18 season with the Magic:

PLAYER: Jonathon SimmonsPOSITION: Shooting guard/small forwardNBA SEASONS: 3AGE: 28

2017-18 SEASON STATS: 69 games (50 starts), 13.9 ppg., 3.5 rpg., 2.5 apg., 0.8 spg., 29.4 mpg., 46.5 percent FG, 33.8 percent 3FG, 76.8 percent FT.

2017-18 SEASON HIGHS: 35 points, March 14 vs. Milwaukee; eight rebounds, Dec. 22 vs. New Orleans; eight assists, Dec. 13 vs. Los Angeles Clippers; four steals, three times, most recently Feb. 26 at Oklahoma City; two blocks, twice, most recently Jan. 27 at Indiana; 41 minutes, Dec. 6 vs. Atlanta.

WHAT WENT RIGHT: The Magic saw great potential in Simmons to do much more than he was allowed to do in San Antonio and that proved to be just the case in Orlando when he got more opportunities. Simmons proved himself of capable of being a dynamic one-on-one player who could pile up points and get to the free throw line. Even though he played just 69 games, Simmons led the Magic in free throw makes (185) and attempts (241) – testaments to his fearlessness and toughness in driving hard to the rim.

In addition to averaging career highs almost across the board, Simmons shot a respectable 33.8 percent from 3-point range. That area was a major question mark, especially after he made just 29.4 percent of his threes a year earlier in San Antonio. He had a career night from 3-point range on March 14 against Milwaukee when he made seven of 12 shots from beyond the arc.

WHAT WENT WRONG: Playing far more minutes than he had ever played in his NBA career, Simmons seemed to fatigue and hit the proverbial wall at midseason. After getting off to a strong start and pouring in 16.7 points in October, 12.7 points in November and 15.8 points in December, Simmons averaged just 10.3 points on 44.1 percent overall shooting and 29 percent 3-point accuracy in January. He did get it back after that poor month, averaging 14.5 points on 46.3 percent shooting in 13 games after the break for the NBA All-Star Game.

As solid as Simmons is defensively, he wasn’t able to have much of an impact on the Magic on that end of the floor. Simmons is thought to be a plus-defender, but even he had trouble with ball containment at times.

Though fatigue did bother Simmons midway through the season, he had no such trouble in back-to-back games. On the second night of back-to-backs (13 such games), Simmons averaged 19.5 points while shooting a torrid 53.3 percent from the floor and 51.9 percent from 3-point range.

FUTURE ROLE WITH MAGIC: Not only did the Magic act promptly last July in signing Simmons away from the Spurs, but they also were able to lock him up to a team-friendly contract. He should be a central part of the team’s core going forward because of the toughness that he brings both offensively and defensively.

Simmons admittedly was affected by the losing in Orlando – something he never experienced in San Antonio – but he said he is fully committed to helping the Magic turn things around and become winners again. He thinks the Magic have plenty of talent on hand to win, but the team needs to be more consistent and it must be held more accountable for their on-court actions.

Simmons’ best role going forward is likely that of a sixth man because of his knack for bringing instant offense and defensive toughness. Simmons is vitally important to the Magic because of his abilities in getting to the rim and getting to the free throw line. However, because he is at his best when he has the ball in his hands and is given the freedom to create for himself, Simmons is likely best suited as a reserve who plays in short bursts going forward.

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2017-18 Player Review: Jonathon Simmons

ORLANDO – An adventurous traveler with a thirst for learning about other areas and cultures, Orlando Magic guard/forward Evan Fournier has vacationed in places such as the Philippines, Algeria, Hawaii and Utah’s Zion National Park at the conclusion of the past three regular seasons.

Other than a short retreat to his home near Paris, Fournier will be taking no such vacations this time around because of the premature end to his season.

Fournier sprained his left knee on March 7 and missed the Magic’s final 17 games of the regular season. Fournier has been outspoken for years about how much he despises missing games, but this time the season-ending injury allowed the veteran to jump-start his thinking on his offseason plans.

``I’m going to be able to work more than usual because I usually go on vacation and get some rest, but I feel like my rest is (the final five weeks of the regular season),’’ Fournier said. ``Right after the season, I’m going to Paris for two weeks, but I’m going to continue to work on my knee, do a lot of rehab and exercises and then I’ll go straight to basketball work and lifting. I’m not going to waste any of my (offseason) because I’m honestly bored. So, I’m going to enjoy my time off now and get back to work early.’’

Fournier’s knee injury was symbolic of a season marred by injuries both for himself and his teammates. The sixth-year NBA player appeared in just 57 games – his fewest since his rookie season in 2012-13 – because of an ankle injury (eight games) and a knee injury (17 games). As a team, the Magic missed more than 200 player games to injuries – a major factor in the team going just 25-57 and falling well short of expectations.

Fournier likely could have returned to play late in the season had the Magic been in the playoff race and he sees no long-term effects of the knee injury that he suffered at Staples Center against the Lakers.

Like many of his teammates, Fournier had high hopes for the Magic this past season and those expectations were ramped up even higher following a promising 6-2 start. However, the Magic were soon hit hard by injuries and they proceeded to fall apart.

Fournier knows that when teams don’t win, changes are usually made to the either the roster or the coaching staff. Already, the Magic have fired head coach Frank Vogel and his entire staff and have started the process of hiring a new mentor for the squad. Next, could come changes to the core of the team – something that Fournier said he can’t afford to worry about. Instead, he’ll get to work on his body and his game in hopes of having a season with fewer injuries.

``It’s the nature of the business, so I don’t really think about it, to be honest,’’ Fournier said. ``You just control what you can control. Obviously, we’re going to make moves this summer. Every team makes moves during the summer. So, we’ll see. It’s going to be interesting to see what happens.’’

Here’s a more in-depth breakdown of Fournier’s 2017-18 season with the Magic:

PLAYER: Evan FournierPOSITION: Shooting guard/small forwardNBA SEASONS: 6AGE: 25

2017-18 SEASON STATS: 57 games (57 starts), 17.8 ppg., 3.2 rpg., 2.9 apg., 0.8 spg., 32.2 mpg., 45.9 percent FG, 37.9 percent 3FG, 86.7 percent FT.

2017-18 SEASON HIGHS: 32 points, Jan. 16 vs. Minnesota; nine rebounds, Oct. 20 at Brooklyn; five assists, 10 times, most recently March 2 vs. Detroit; five steals, Nov. 8 vs. New York; two blocks, Oct. 21 at Cleveland; 41 minutes, Dec. 6 vs. Atlanta.

WHAT WENT RIGHT: Fournier missed the final 17 games of the regular season, but he still edged out teammate Aaron Gordon (17.6 ppg.) for the team lead in scoring. It is the second straight season that Fournier had led the Magic in scoring. His 17.8 points per game were a career high, as was his rebounding total (3.2 rpg.). Fournier was Orlando’s most consistent shooter and he finished at a solid 45.9 percent from the floor, 37.9 percent from 3-point range and 86.7 percent from the free throw line.

He led or tied for the team league in scoring 16 times and led or tied in the assists lead five times. He had at least 20 points a team-best 22 times. His 32-point effort on Jan. 16 not only allowed the Magic to notch a big home win against the Minnesota Timberwolves, but it proved to be a career high for Fournier.

WHAT WENT WRONG: Fournier’s ankle injury in early December hit the Magic at a time when Gordon was also out, crippling the offense. Orlando didn’t win any of the eight games while he was out with the ankle injury and sealed its fate once again. Down the stretch, the Magic were mostly a mess offensively without Fournier on the floor, showing his importance to the team as a scorer and playmaker.

Fournier is still a work in progress when it comes to being a playmaker for others. Too often, he forces shots in traffic when he and the Magic would be better served with him passing to open teammates. His 2.9 assists this past season nearly equaled his career-best mark (3.0 in 2016-17), but he has the kind of vision and basketball IQ that he should average far more assists for a Magic offense that badly needs his playmaking skills.

FUTURE ROLE WITH MAGIC: Fournier is a critically important player to the Magic because of his abilities as a knock-down 3-point shooter and his willingness to take (and make) shots in difficult, late-clock situations. Fournier has been the Magic’s best offensive player for much of the past three seasons, but injuries have often ruined his rhythm and effectiveness.

Fournier could potentially be one of the causalities of the offseason via a trade, but he will be difficult to deal because of his importance to the Magic and the size of his contract. The only way the Magic trade him away is if they get a bounty of players, prospects or salary cap space in return.

Considering that he can score in a variety of ways, his abilities as a plus 3-point shooter and his positional versatility as a shooting guard and/or a small forward, the Magic would be wise to retain Fournier and build future teams around him. While he isn’t a superstar player, Fournier is easily Orlando’s most complete offensive player and he cares deeply about winning. Odds are that Fournier will return to Orlando next season, and he’s likely to produce great offensive numbers and solid defensive efforts yet again.

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2017-18 Player Review: Evan Fournier

ORLANDO – As the longest-tenured player on the Orlando Magic, center Nikola Vucevic has seen his share of struggles over the last six seasons. But it has done nothing to break his resolve in wanting to help turn the Magic into winners again.

Upon the end of Orlando’s 25-57 season, Vucevic reaffirmed his commitment to the Magic, stressing that he wants to be a part of the franchise’s revival.

``I’ve been here the longest and obviously we’ve had a lot of ups and downs, but I’m confident that we can get this franchise back to winning,’’ the 7-foot center said. ``That’s something that I want more than anything else. I think I’ve shown that I’m committed to this franchise by staying through all of these hard times.

``Obviously, it doesn’t happen overnight, and it takes a lot of work and we need certain things to happen. If I didn’t believe that (things will turn around), if I didn’t see light at the end of the tunnel, there’d be no point for me being here. But I really believe we’re not far away,’’ he added. ``It doesn’t look that way right now from the outside but being with the team every day and knowing these guys and what they believe in, I really believe we can turn this thing around sooner rather than later.’’

Vucevic did his part in trying to make the Magic better this past season, registering a solid bounce-back from a down effort in 2016-17. Not only did he average 16.5 points and 9.2 rebounds per game, but he also averaged 3.4 assists a game and made 64 3-pointers – both career-high marks.

A bit of bad luck – a fractured bone in his left hand – cost Vucevic 23 games from Dec. 26 to Feb. 14. The injury hit just as the Magic were also without Evan Fournier, Aaron Gordon and Jonathan Isaac and wrecked the team’s chances of winning games.

Despite suffering through a sixth straight losing season and faced with the fact that he could be poised to play for his fifth head coach while in an Orlando uniform, Vucevic said he is hopeful that he will continue to remain with the Magic. A big soccer fan, Vucevic has always admired the players who remain with one franchise and remain loyal. He is hopeful that someday soon his loyalty will be repaid with a season in which the Magic return to the playoffs.

``I really would love, more than anything, to get this team back to the playoffs,’’ Vucevic said. ``I’ve always looked up to players who have stayed with one team their entire careers. … It would mean a lot to me (to turn things around) because I’ve been through lots of down times, but I always feel like I’ve given it my all on the court. Obviously, I’m not perfect and I have my weaknesses, but I think I bring a lot to this team. I think I can continue to do that even more. If we turn this thing around and start winning, not only me but everybody else will play even better. I believe that we can do it, I want to be a part of it and I want to stay here. People know that, and I think I’ve shown my loyalty to the franchise.’’

For a closer look at Vucevic’s 2017-18 season, here’s a breakdown of his highs and lows:

PLAYER: Nikola VucevicPOSITION: CenterNBA SEASONS: 7AGE: 27

2017-18 SEASON STATS: 57 games (57 starts), 16.5 ppg., 9.2 rpg., 3.4 apg., 1.0 spg., 1.1 bpg., 29.5 mpg., 47.5 percent FG, 31.4 percent 3FG, 81.9 percent FT.

2017-18 SEASON HIGHS: 41 points, Oct. 20 at Brooklyn; 17 rebounds, Dec. 8 vs. Denver; 10 assists, Dec. 9 at Atlanta; four steals, three times, most recently March 14 at Milwaukee; four blocks, twice, most recently Dec. 8 vs. Denver 27; 40 minutes, Dec. 6 vs. Atlanta.

WHAT WENT RIGHT: Vucevic led the Magic in rebounding a sixth straight season, he averaged a career-best 3.4 assists a game, he averaged a solid 16.5 points and he morphed into the 3-point threat that the Magic needed from the center position. He was constantly lauded by former Magic coach Frank Vogel for ``playing the right way,’’ what with his manner of passing well from the high post and working to defend screen-and-roll plays far from the rim.

Vucevic led the Magic in scoring 16 times, in rebounding 37 times and in assists five times. He had 29 double-digit rebound games, allowing him to pass Shaquille O’Neal for the second-most such games in Magic franchise history.

He poured in a career-best 41 points early in the season in Brooklyn by making 17 of 22 field goals and six of eight 3-pointers – and it wasn’t even his best performance of the season. With the Magic lacking offensive firepower because of a rash of injuries, Vucevic crafted the first triple-double of his career on Dec. 9 in Atlanta. Vucevic scored 31 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and handed out a career-best 10 assists that night versus the Hawks.

WHAT WENT WRONG: With the Magic still clinging to hope of salvaging their season, Vucevic fractured a bone in his left hand after being hit by Washington’s Ian Mahinmi. The injury knocked him out of the next 23 games, and all but sealed the Magic’s fate.

Whether it was because of the time off or the injury, Vucevic never shot the ball the same after returning. He shot 49.1 percent from the floor and a solid 34.3 percent from 3-point range prior to the injury but connected on just 45.1 percent of his shots and 25 percent of his threes after returning.

Like many of his teammates, Vucevic struggled mightily in Orlando’s defensive schemes. According to NBA.com’s stats database, opposing teams shot 65.6 percent at the rim with Vucevic on the floor – the worst number of his career. Often, teams would go to point guard/center pick-and-roll plays late in games and Vucevic would struggle in those coverages – whether it was allowing quicker guards to get to the rim or surrendering too much ground for easy, mid-range jump shots. His ability to defend in those situations is critical to the Magic being able to improve their defense.

FUTURE ROLE WITH MAGIC: Vucevic is about to enter the final year of his contract, potentially making him a valuable trade chip going forward. Also, because he signed his extension at a below-market rate some three years ago, Vucevic is a comparative bargain at the center position.

However, the 27-year-old big man is still highly productive, highly respected among his teammates, a leader among the group and wants to be with the franchise – factors that shouldn’t be dismissed as the Magic continue an arduous rebuild.
  Vucevic badly wants to remain in Orlando to be a driving force in the team’s turnaround. His loyalty to the franchise is extremely admirable and something that the Magic’s front office loves about him.

However, for the sake of the Magic’s improvement and for the sake of Vucevic’s career, Orlando’s leadership just might deem it necessary for the two to part ways. Clearly, the status quo hasn’t worked for years and management might feel that a big change in the middle is needed.

If Vucevic does return for a seventh season in a Magic uniform, he’ll undoubtedly continue to pile up a slew of numbers and continue to care deeply about helping the franchise become winners again. Here’s to hoping that both of those things happen next season in Orlando.

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2017-18 Player Review: Nikola Vucevic

ORLANDO – In a myriad of ways, Aaron Gordon’s up-and-down season proved to be a microcosm of the path that the Orlando Magic took in 2017-18.

A promising and prolific start for Gordon was interrupted by injuries and ultimately proved disappointing because of a frustrating finish. Similarly, the Magic opened at 6-2 and 8-4, got battered throughout by a myriad of injuries and slumped to a 25-57 finish that fell far short of expectations.

Gordon, 22, emerged from it all with career highs in points (17.6), rebounds (7.9), assists (2.3), steals (1.0), blocks (0.8), minutes (32.9) and 3-point accuracy (33.6) – numbers that he undoubtedly will use when he becomes a restricted free agent on July 1. He even floated out his ideal scenario when asked about the next contract he will soon sign.

``Ideal? Ideal is max – that would be ideal. Three letters (max),’’ Gordon responded to the open-ended question, adding that he hopes such an offer will come from the Magic. ``Definitely here (in Orlando), that would be ideal. If (GM) John (Hammond) and (President of Basketball Operations) Jeff (Weltman) made that investment, that would definitely be ideal to get those three letters on my name.’’

Gordon might find difficulty in landing such financial security based on the up-and-down nature of his season. Upon closer examination, Gordon’s performance was like night and day for a variety of reasons.

The 6-foot-9, 220-pound forward dominated action early in the season, twice scoring at least 40 points, hitting two game-winning 3-pointers and showing the confidence in his outside shot that he had lacked much of his first three seasons in the NBA.

By January, however, injuries robbed Gordon of his rhythm and early-season effectiveness. He still had moments of brilliance with his high-flying exploits, but he mostly struggled with his shot over the final 3½ months. Gordon suffered the second and third concussions of his career and a troublesome hip injury knocked him out of action for an extended period of time in February and prevented him from competing in a third straight Slam Dunk Competition at the NBA All-Star Game.

Still, Gordon has shown steady progress in each of his four NBA seasons and he’s confident that there is plenty more growth that will emerge in his game. Through hard work and a greater understanding of what is expected of him, Gordon feels he has superstar potential and that the Magic would be wise to invest in him for the foreseeable future.

``It would be a beautiful thing to go from one of the worst teams in the league to one of the best,’’ Gordon said. ``It would be a beautiful story. It’s a challenge, it’s something I look forward to and accept. That challenge is what we have here and if we keep building, we have the capability.

``With four years in the league at 22, I’m a young veteran and I have a lot of experience,’’ he added. ``I’m just looking to continue to grow and continue to learn. With John, Jeff and (Assistant GM) Pete (D’Alessandro), they have a lot to teach and I want to continue to learn from them and learn from the guys that we have here.’’

Here is a more in-depth breakdown of Gordon’s season and what lies ahead for the forward in the future:

PLAYER: Aaron GordonPOSITION: Power ForwardNBA SEASONS: 4AGE: 22

2017-18 SEASON STATS: 58 games (57 starts), 17.6 ppg., 7.9 rpg., 2.4 apg., 1.02 spg., 32.9 mpg., 43.4 percent FG, 33.6 percent 3FG, 69.8 percent FT.

2017-18 SEASON HIGHS: 41 points, Oct. 24 vs. Brooklyn; 15 rebounds, twice, most recently Dec. 6 vs. Atlanta; eight assists, March 24 vs. Phoenix; four steals, twice, most recently Jan. 18 at Cleveland; four blocks, Nov. 27 at Indiana; 45 minutes, Dec. 6 vs. Atlanta.

WHAT WENT RIGHT: Gordon was Orlando’s best player in October, November and December and an early top candidate for the NBA’s Most Improved Player award. In his first 28 games of the season, Gordon averaged 18.8 points on 49.8 percent shooting and a jaw-dropping 41.2 percent accuracy from 3-point range. He ended 2017 with a 39-point, seven-rebound and five-3-pointer effort against the Miami Heat. However, things quickly turned for Gordon after the calendar turned to 2018.

Though his play would tail off over the final 3 ½ months, Gordon set career highs across the board while also becoming a much more confident shooter from the perimeter. He led or tied for the lead in scoring 20 times and in rebounding 18 times.

In addition to pouring in the career-best 41 points against Brooklyn and another 40 against Oklahoma City, Gordon had game-winning 3-point shots against Memphis and Brooklyn early in the season.

WHAT WENT WRONG: For a variety of reasons, Gordon’s play fell off dramatically by early January. Twice he suffered concussions that knocked him out of action and out of rhythm. He also had hip and ankle injuries that also served as setbacks and interrupted his flow. Gordon also cited the trading of Elfrid Payton – his teammate of the previous 3 ½ seasons – for negatively impacting his play.

In 30 games in January, February, March and April, Gordon’s scoring average dipped (16.5 ppg.) while his shooting from the floor (38.4 percent) and 3-point range (27.2 percent) plummeted.

Gordon is still very much a work in progress in terms of shot selection and making other players around him better with his passing. He still struggles with walking the fine line of taking over games and setting up others when the defense focuses on him. The good news is that he is just 22 years old, he’s a hard worker and he's shown steady improvement over each of this four NBA seasons.

FUTURE ROLE WITH MAGIC: Free agency often brings uncertainty, but there is strong belief within the Magic – and with Gordon himself – that he will be back in Orlando next season. In many ways, he is Orlando’s most coveted commodity and the team is determined to keep him this offseason and focus future building around his many talents. Sure, Gordon still has some maturing to do in terms of shot selection and leadership, but the Magic know that he is still a diamond in the rough that could shine extraordinarily bright someday soon.

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2017-18 Player Review: Aaron Gordon

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