Orlando Magic (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The Orlando Magic are in a bad spot as a result of injuries, but these three players have an opportunity to take on larger responsibility.
The Orlando Magic have endured a tough time since 2012, but in the last couple of seasons, they had managed to right the ship. Back-to-back postseason berths showing their fans that, if nothing else, they were trying to make the right decisions to once again be a competitive organization.
The start of the 2020-21 season was the culmination of all of that hard work. The Magic started 6-2, and despite their schedule being relatively easy to begin the year, some of the wins came against inferior opponents that they would have lost to in the past. It looked like they had turned a corner.
This happened without Jonathan Isaac, who went down in the bubble with an ACL tear. Thanks to the continued excellence of center Nikola Vucevic, who does not deserve what he is about to endure, and point guard Markelle Fultz, who in year two with the team was suddenly among their most important players, the Magic had an identity, some talent and a bit of depth.
The loss of Fultz, also to an ACL tear, ended any hopes of an improvement on last year. The team has lost six straight since then and looks like they are going to continue their free-fall down the standings. Monday afternoon they put in a mostly abject display to the New York Knicks, their third loss away from home on what is a five-game road trip.
Despite all of this negativity, and it is hard not to get wrapped up in it all, especially considering the glimpses of what this season could have been that we were given, all is not completely lost. Isaac and Fultz will return, and ACL tears are not the career-ender they once were (Zach LaVine is a good example of this). Until then, these three players can make the most of their opportunity to play big minutes.
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<p>This happened without Jonathan Isaac, who went down in the bubble with an ACL tear. Thanks to the continued excellence of center Nikola Vucevic, who <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/19/orlando-magic-3-x-factors-opportunity/"https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/18/orlando-magic-nikola-vucevic-better/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">does not deserve</a> what he is about to endure, and point guard Markelle Fultz, who in year two with the team was suddenly among their most important players, the Magic had an identity, some talent and a bit of depth.</p>
<p>The loss of Fultz, also to an ACL tear, ended any hopes of an improvement on last year. The team has lost six straight since then and looks like they are going to continue their free-fall down the standings. Monday afternoon they put in a mostly abject display to the New York Knicks, their third loss away from home on what is a five-game road trip.</p>
<p>Despite all of this negativity, and it is hard not to get wrapped up in it all, especially considering the glimpses of what this season could have been that we were given, all is not completely lost. Isaac and Fultz will return, and ACL tears are not the career-ender they once were (Zach LaVine is a <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/19/orlando-magic-3-x-factors-opportunity/"https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/15/chicago-bulls-3-ways-zach-lavine/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">good example of this</a>). Until then, these three players can make the most of their opportunity to play big minutes.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/19/orlando-magic-3-x-factors-opportunity/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Evan Fournier </a>
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<img class="size-full wp-image-421208" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/19/orlando-magic-3-x-factors-opportunity/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1230283105.jpeg" alt="Evan Fournier" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1230283105.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1230283105-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Orlando Magic (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Orlando Magic X-factor No. 1: Evan Fournier</h2>
<p>No player on this Magic roster has a more complicated relationship with the fans than Evan Fournier. For years now, many fans have accused him of hijacking the offense, not being good enough to carry an offense, and being at the root of a lot of the issues for the team. They feel like he and Vucevic look for each other always, and that if he is their best offensive player, that’s a problem.</p>
<p>On the other hand, it is obvious when Fournier is not out there that he is the Magic’s most complete offensive player and in many ways the team’s closer out of necessity. Would he work better as the second or third option? Most likely, but the Magic don’t have that right now, and although the offense flows through Vucevic, Fournier is capable of doing a lot of things he can’t.</p>
<p>Monday’s loss to the Knicks was the latest in a growing list of evidence to support this. Fournier again sat out with back spasms, and the Magic looked terrible offensively for long stretches of the game. The ability of Vucevic kept them afloat, while Gordon had a great game, especially defensively.</p>
<p>Had Fournier been on the court, the Magic could have pulled out the win, even if the Knicks are an organization that themselves are going in the right direction. Last season Fournier averaged 18.5 points a night on a shade under 40 percent shooting from deep. It would have been much better for the team if he was taking most of the shots that Dwayne Bacon and James Ennis III did.</p>
<p>Here is where it gets interesting. Fournier is an unrestricted free agent after this season. With Fultz and Isaac gone, he has even more responsibility to produce. This puts him in a strong position, as he will surely attract interest from elsewhere because of this. He would be an ideal third option on a contending outfit.</p>
<p>Or else the same fans who groan when he makes a play will have to accept that he’s as good as it gets in that department as he is brought back. All of a sudden wishing he was no longer around doesn’t look so good when you consider how they have struggled without him already this year. Either way once healthy, Fournier looks like he will ensure his value continues trending upwards.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/19/orlando-magic-3-x-factors-opportunity/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Aaron Gordon </a>
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<img class="size-full wp-image-421210" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/19/orlando-magic-3-x-factors-opportunity/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1296761972.jpeg" alt="Orlando Magic" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1296761972.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1296761972-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Orlando Magic (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>2. Aaron Gordon</h2>
<p>It might be the most talked-about storyline on the Magic’s roster in the last five years. When will Gordon finally take that consistent leap into being the face of the franchise for the Magic? This season so far has been more of the same, great displays like the one against the Knicks, surrounded by less dominating games from 25-year-old.</p>
<p>14.9 points and seven rebounds a night on the early goings so far is, fine. Gordon is also the best defender on the roster and typically plays to a higher level on that end than he does offensively on any given night. At this point when we have come to accept that Gordon likely won’t ever be the guy who can lead a franchise.</p>
<p>But as we know now, he doesn’t have to be. Both Isaac and Fultz look primed to slot into that role once they return, while Vucevic is making a case to be an All-Star for a second time this year. But until those guys return, and knowing that the Magic are going to lose more games than they win, Gordon has the kind of opportunity that existed when he first got drafted.</p>
<p>This is now being looked at as kind of a tanking year, even if the Magic themselves aren’t going to say as much and if head coach Steve Clifford doesn’t operate that way. But the sad reality is the depth is no longer there (as this box score <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/19/orlando-magic-3-x-factors-opportunity/"https://www.espn.co.uk/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401267363" target="_blank" rel="noopener">clearly illustrates</a>), and the losses are going to come.</p>
<p>So now Gordon gets to play in a situation with less pressure, which won’t have been what he wanted of course, while also having the benefit of being seven years into his career. Whatever about his trajectory and if he has lived up to the billing, Gordon is a smart and willing player. Effort like that is going to increase his value to the organization for when others return. It starts with making the most of his expanded role for the rest of the year.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/19/orlando-magic-3-x-factors-opportunity/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Cole Anthony </a>
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<img class="size-full wp-image-421211" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/19/orlando-magic-3-x-factors-opportunity/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1065,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1230606364.jpeg" alt="Orlando Magic" width="1600" height="1065" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1230606364.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1230606364-768x511.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Orlando Magic (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>1. Cole Anthony</h2>
<p>Rookie Cole Anthony looked really good coming off the bench in the early goings for the Magic. He is young, hungry and clearly has a chip on his shoulder having fallen to 15th in the draft. This worked really well as an energy guy off the bench who could back up Fultz, the more tenacious player of the two.</p>
<p>Mistakes were always going to be made, but in a limited role like that, and next to Terrence Ross and Khem Birch, there was energy and balance on both ends of the court. Say what you want about Anthony, he is going to be an accomplished offensive player for a long time in the league, and already has that certain spark that most Magic players are lacking in that area.</p>
<p>With Fultz gone, Anthony is clearly the main beneficiary. Now he’s not competing with Fultz for the starting job, and it may be that he does so well that by the time Fultz returns, the two will play in the backcourt together (kind of like Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum). With the Magic probably going to come to a point where they are ok with losing, that suits Anthony as well.</p>
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<p>He can make all of the mistakes that he wants (and early on as a starter, there have been plenty) while trying to improve. Also worth keeping an eye on will be how Anthony and Vucevic work together, particularly in pick and roll situations. Vucevic is so skilled that essentially any point guard can play well off of him.</p>
<p>D.J. Augustin had a lot of success, and the passing range of Fultz was something Vucevic was already enjoying and annoyed not to have out there since he went down. For Anthony to learn on the job next to a big man like that at the peak of his powers will be excellent for his development. Especially as Vucevic steps out to the 3-point line and Anthony drives to the basket.</p>
<p>The season was never meant to go this way for Anthony, or the Orlando Magic as a whole, but he now has an opportunity to play big minutes and hopefully, as time goes on, do all he can to replace the production of Fultz. Even if he will most certainly be doing it in a different way.</p>
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