Orlando Magic: 4 players who need to step up with Evan Fournier out
By Luke Duffy
2. Arron Afflalo
Veteran guard Arron Afflalo is likely to replace Fournier in the starting lineup, and so will see his minutes increase right away. He’s only appeared in 20 games so far this season, and sometimes doesn’t even figure into head coach Frank Vogel’s second unit rotation, instead playing spot minutes.
More from Orlando Magic
- The most exciting NBA team you won’t see on national TV this season
- 5 NBA teams on the rise that will surprise everyone in 2023-24
- Ranking the 10 championship-less NBA teams by closeness to title
- Orlando Magic draft odds: What are the chances of landing the #1 pick?
- Franz Wagner has smashed the sophomore slump for the Orlando Magic
That’s a worrying sign, especially as the player hasn’t gotten into any sort of rhythm so far this season. The putrid 26.1 percent he’s shooting from 3-point range illustrating this.
Defensively he’s not the player he once was either, and instead will have to rely on crafty veteran play to get by on that end. He may get away with that, however, as Fournier wasn’t exactly known for getting defensive stops either.
Positives to Afflalo taking up Fournier’s role include a willingness to defer to better scorers like Vucevic and Aaron Gordon. Afflalo is also a calming influence on the court, and doesn’t force a pass or shot. Unfortunately, that may go against the fierce pace the Magic often try to play with.
Afflalo is averaging 12.5 minutes per game (a career low), and will have to be comfortable playing up to double that amount for the next while. Failure to adapt could sink this team’s playoff hopes at a time when the schedule could allow them to sneak back above .500 again.