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NBA: Pending Free Agents Who Need A Change Of Scenery

By Maxwell Ogden

Apr 7, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) and Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford (15) fight for the ball during the second half at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Raptors 95-87. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 7, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) and Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford (15) fight for the ball during the second half at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Raptors 95-87. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 8, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA;Orlando Magic guard Evan Fournier (10) and guard Victor Oladipo (5) high five against the Miami Heat during the first half at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 8, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA;Orlando Magic guard Evan Fournier (10) and guard Victor Oladipo (5) high five against the Miami Heat during the first half at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Evan Fournier, Orlando Magic

Contract Status: Restricted Free Agent
Position: Shooting Guard
Age: 23 (10/29/1992)
Slash Line: .462/.400/.836
Season Averages: 32.5 MPG, 15.4 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.2 SPG, 2.0 3PM

At some point, Mario Hezonja will lock down the starting role at small forward, and Evan Fournier will be sent back to the bench as Victor Oladipo starts at shooting guard. Nothing is guaranteed in the NBA, but that’s what Orlando is building towards.

Fournier could thrive as the team’s sixth man, but he could also sign a long-term contract to play a bigger role on another team.

Hezonja is still a year or two away from playing at a starting-caliber level, which implies Fournier could benefit from signing a short-term deal. That could actually be the ideal move for a player who performed at a significantly higher level when at the 3 than at the 2.

Fournier averaged 18.4 points on a slash line of .484/.419/.839 in 42 starts at small forward, and 11.6 points on a slash line of .408/.354/.891 in 29 starts at shooting guard.

Telling as those numbers are, the reality still exists that Hezonja is champing at the bit. Thus, Fournier signing a long-term deal in Orlando doesn’t create quite as much promise as his doing so with another team would.

Orlando’s youth permits Fournier to develop with patience, but Hezonja’s presence counters that point.

Next: Going For No. 3