Orlando Magic: 4 most intriguing players for 2018-19

1. Jonathon Simmons

No player on the Magic’s roster better encapsulates where the team has come from, and is looking to go, better than Jonathon Simmons. A highly regarded free agent last summer, he spurned better situations to sign a three-year, $20 million deal with Orlando.

He arrived to some fanfare, as his team-first, defensive style was seen as exactly what was needed. Simmons started promisingly before flaming out badly in the second half of the season. A wrist injury did not help either.

What’s concerning is how Orlando has a reputation now as a place where careers go to stall. Before it was only true of young players and draft picks like Victor Oladipo and Tobias Harris. They also couldn’t get the best out of Elfrid Payton or Mario Hezonja, although it is unclear if anybody can.

Even Gordon had his detractors before signing that new deal, with some feeling he was not growing the way he was supposed to. Last season changed that perception for him, but that feeling of youth being incorrectly nurtured still remains.

That’s why when the same thing happened to Simmons, it was real cause for concern. Overcoming the feeling that he took a backwards step in his first year in Orlando will be one of the stories of the entire organization’s season.

If Simmons can get back to where he was with the San Antonio Spurs, then the Magic will have their leader in the court and the locker room, and the dream player to pair beside Isaac and Bamba.

More than that, he will also continue to smash through this pedestrian career highs in scoring (13.9 per game) and rebounding (3.5 per game), as well as other categories that he posted when he saw a lot more of the ball last season.