Orlando Magic: 3 goals for Evan Fournier in 2018-19
By Chris Murch
2. Stay healthy
The Magic got hit with an injury storm last season that only the Los Angeles Clippers could really rival. Altogether, the Magic missed 200 player games. Having your prized rookie only play 27 games, another heavy usage guy in Terrence Ross only play 24 games, Gordon be out for 24 games, Nikola Vucevic miss 25 games and Fournier also be out for 25 games is pretty hard to play around. All of these ailments contributed to the Magic having their worst record since the 2014-15 season, Fournier’s first in Orlando.
In Fournier’s four years in the Sunshine State, he has missed 66 games — an average of 16.5 per season. While these numbers aren’t alarmingly high, if Fournier can’t stay healthy this season, it’s hard to justify paying him $17 million and playing him 30-plus minutes a night.
Fournier’s contributions are tantamount to him being 100 percent on the floor. The Orlando offense looked confused without Fournier on the court during his injury struggles, and they suffered because of it.
During the 25 games he missed, the Magic went 5-20. You can make all the points you want about Fournier being a trade target and how they might be better with him taking a bit of a backseat, but the fact remains: This team was way worse off without him out there. While Fournier is in the Blue and White, his health is a big aspect to the Magic’s success.
If Fournier can put together a 75-plus game season this year, expect a few more wins for Orlando. His offense will be needed as this team leans toward defense, and so will his veteran leadership despite only being 25 years old.
Fournier seems to be determined to put the ankle and knee injuries of last year behind him. After the 2017-18 season, in which he missed the last 17 games, he told NBA.com’s John Denton:
"“I’m not going to waste any of my [offseason] because I’m honestly bored. So, I’m going to enjoy my time off now and get back to work early.’’"
Here’s to a fully healthy season for Fournier and more of the same, if not better, production in 2018-19.