NBA Trade Grades: Evan Fournier to the Celtics for picks
By Luke Duffy
NBA trade grades for the Orlando Magic
Is it possible that this deal was just a little bit rushed? On the surface, moving on from Fournier was absolutely the right call for one key reason. The decision on whether or not to bring him back this summer would have been a tricky one, that alienated one side of the fanbase no matter what the front office did.
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To have done so would have meant the Magic were running it back, with Fournier their best creator and somebody they trusted to make another significant leap forward. Either that or let him walk for nothing. Instead, that decision is taken out of their hands now, and they can move on without wondering what might have been if he’d walked.
Make no mistake though, the Magic are going to struggle in his absence. It became clear quite how important he was offensively this season when he was out injured, and a lot of offensive possessions are going to be downright ugly now that he is not around. He could bail the team out in ways nobody else could, save for Vucevic from time to time.
Getting a pair of second-rounders for him is a little underwhelming though. Obviously, the value of Fournier isn’t very high because he is only a rental unless he commits his future to another organization, plus they did not have to make the decision on keeping him. But a young player with some upside was not asking for too much.
Even on the roster of the Celtics, there are a number of young guys who have some intrigue to them at least. Players like Romeo Langford, Payton Pritchard and even Tacko Fall. Instead, the Magic will get two chances to draft a serviceable player in the second round in the future. The best they’ve done with these picks up to this point? Wesley Iwundu, who they let walk last year.