Orlando Magic: 5 players most likely to be traded this season
By Luke Duffy
3. Evan Fournier
It was tempting to put Elfrid Payton in this position, and it’s not hard to see why. The Magic have traded lottery picks they weren’t sure about extending before (see Oladipo, Victor).
But the truth is there just isn’t a big enough market for a point guard like Payton — somebody who is stuck between being a starting-caliber player and a competent backup.
This leaves Evan Fournier as the guy to slide in here, and while a trade may seem improbable, it’s not impossible. Fournier is the other highest-paid on the team, and if the Magic start the season poorly or decide to go in a different direction, Fournier could be on the table.
Orlando Magic
A lot of teams would balk at paying him $17 million a season, but he’s far more versatile than the Biyombos of this world. Fournier is coming off a healthy showing at EuroBasket as well.
Far worse players have been given huge sums of money before, and Fournier is making less this season than Enes Kanter, Wesley Matthews and Evan Turner.
Also worth considering is the fact Fournier was paid by the previous regime, and new general manager John Hammond may have other ideas for the long-term vision of the wing position.
Besides, with Gordon, Terrence Ross, Jonathan Isaac and Jonathon Simmons all vying for minutes that Fournier has (career high 32.9 last season), somebody has to lose out.
That person could be Fournier, and if another team comes in with a concrete offer, the team would be mad to not at least consider it.
Think about the situation this way. Fournier is probably the Magic’s “guy” right now while Gordon and Isaac come up, but how happy are you about that fact?