Orlando Magic: Not Extending Evan Fournier The Right Call

The consistent theme with the Orlando Magic heading into the 2015-16 season has been patience. Maybe not from the front office, who wants to see results actually come with the kind of development that was supposedly going on under Jacque Vaughn, but most people understand this incredibly young team is still probably a year away from a collective breakout season.

From new head coach Scott Skiles to Nikola Vucevic’s defense to Victor Oladipo’s star potential to Elfrid Payton’s shooting, “patience” is the buzz word in Orlando. It’s no surprise, then, that the Magic decided not to give shooting guard Evan Fournier a contract extension before Monday night’s deadline.

Whenever the Orlando Magic’s ultra-young core comes up, Evan Fournier is usually an afterthought. On a team whose future revolves around double-double machine Nikola Vucevic (25), two-way stud Victor Oladipo (23), facilitator Elfrid Payton (21), scoring machine Tobias Harris (23), uber-athlete Aaron Gordon (20) and promising rookie Mario Hezonja (20), the 23-year-old Fournier is often only mentioned as a common courtesy — if he’s even mentioned at all.

From an age perspective, it makes no sense. Despite being the same age as Harris and Oladipo, he’s never really been viewed as a player with that same type of ceiling.

So far in 2015-16, Fournier is averaging a career-high 14.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. He’s started all three games for the Magic and is averaging 35.7 minutes a night, so Orlando clearly needs and values him being on the floor.

However, that’s not to say that Evan Fournier is an intrinsic part of this team’s success. After all, the Magic are 0-3 heading into Tuesday night’s contest against the New Orleans Pelicans. With Fournier shooting a less than impressive 39.5 percent from the floor and a dismal 26.7 percent from three-point territory, it’s no wonder the Magic have been outscored by 4.8 points per 100 possessions with him on the floor.

By not extending Fournier’s contract by Monday’s deadline, the Magic’s current starting 2-guard will become a restricted free agent on July 1. On his current contract of $2.28 million, Fournier might be able to make a lot more money next summer as opposed to reaching a deal now, since the NBA’s salary cap will balloon to around $90 million.

For both Fournier and the Magic, the 2015-16 season will become a trial period.

According to Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel, the Magic are still high on Fournier, who wants to remain with the team for the long-term. But in case Fournier doesn’t work out as the team’s starting shooting guard this season, Orlando made the right decision holding off on a contract extension when they have a more than capable replacement waiting in the wings.

Though he’s only 20 years old, Mario Hezonja is already creating a stir around the league for his size, athleticism and three-point shooting ability. He’s a fun rookie oozing with confidence, and though he’s only averaging 4.7 points in 15.0 minutes per game on 33.3 percent shooting, he’s made half of his three-pointers and the Magic are a +5.7 per 100 possession with him on the floor.

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Hezonja has a much small sample size to work with, but you get the point. As a potential sharpshooter who is more than capable of attacking the basket, the Magic didn’t need to take a risk on Fournier.

If the 23-year-old Frenchman thrives in Orlando, the Magic can navigate through the waters of restricted free agency for a player not many teams will be making big offers for, especially since they have so many players on rookie-scale deals still.

If he doesn’t, the Magic can lowball him — if they still want him around — with the knowledge that if he accepts another offer elsewhere, they can either match or just give his minutes to the development of Hezonja, who will be on a much cheaper rookie-scale contract.

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How Orlando’s shiny new rookie progresses in his first NBA season will be a factor here, as will Fournier’s performance in a starting role. It’s not guaranteed that Fournier hangs on to his starting job through the whole season if these small sample size numbers carry on through the next few months.

But in any event, “patience” is the right approach with the development of both Fournier and Super Mario.

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