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2021 NBA Trade Deadline: 5 veterans that could help playoff teams

By Larry Hammonds

Jan 22, 2021; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Houston Rockets guard Victor Oladipo (7) shares a laugh with forward Jae'Sean Tate (8) during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 22, 2021; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Houston Rockets guard Victor Oladipo (7) shares a laugh with forward Jae'Sean Tate (8) during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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NBA trade deadline (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images)
NBA trade deadline (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images) /

NBA trade deadline target No. 2: Evan Fournier

Plagued by injuries all year, the Orlando Magic are a sinking ship, and it would be wise of the front office to start moving assets sooner than later and start looking toward rebuilding. Evan Fournier is on the final year of his contract and with his knack for scoring, should be a hot commodity amongst playoff teams looking for a boost before the playoffs.

Fournier is a proficient scorer and an underrated playmaker. Despite seeing a decrease in playing time and field goal attempts, he’s averaging career highs with 19.1 points and 3.9 assists per game this season.

He’s shooting 55.3 percent on two-point field goals and 37.5 percent from 3-point range for the season. Though he has a reputation of being a streaky shooter, that title seems to be a bit overblown, being that he has career shooting splits of .450/.375/.807, and he’s shot over 50 percent from inside the arc for his entire NBA career.

Since the start of the 2016 season, Fournier has averaged at least 17 points per game in four out of five seasons while starting all but two games he appeared in during that span.

He likely won’t be a starter if he gets traded to a healthy playoff team, but he can provide a spark off the bench as a sixth man. He can be what Lou Williams has been for the LA Clippers but more efficient.