Orlando Magic: 4 players who need to step up with Evan Fournier out

4. Nikola Vucevic

It might seem strange to consider a center as somebody who can replace Fournier’s production, but that’s exactly what Nikola Vucevic can do. While some feel that Vucevic’s defensive inabilities are tough to hide for the Magic, he is arguably a top-five offensive center in the NBA at this point.

He’s the third-highest scorer on this team with 16.7 points per game, and we’ve already seen Vucevic carry this team in the past when the Magic’s roster wasn’t as competitive as it is now.

He has averaged as high as 19.3 points over the course of a whole season in the past, while his 3-point shooting ability is something he’s added over the last couple of years.

The 33.9 percent Vucevic is averaging from deep needs to improve, but he is definitely going to get more shots each night now that Fournier is out. He is already taking a career high 4.2 attempts per game from 3-point range, and that number only figures to rise.

Vucevic also has an effective field goal percentage of 53.9 percent, a career high despite continuing to expand his game away from the basket.

It’s a good sign for a team that will need more out of Vucevic each night now. Expect that to happen as he becomes the leading scorer for this team.