[high floorParticipant]

How about that Evan Fournier – Arron Afflalo trade?

Orlando GM Rob Hennigan was lit up pretty harshly for this deal, after Afflalo completed a near all-star calliber campaign in 2013. Now you have Fournier averaging 19 pts, 4 rebs, 3 assists, 1.2 stls, on 46% fg, 81% ft on the year. And anyone who has seen him actually play a game has noticed that he’s been EXCELLENT on defense. As a 23 year old, on a cheap rookie contract. 

IMO the most underappreciated part of this exchange was Fournier’s age and contract status. If (and hopefully when..) Orlando is able to secure Fournier long term, his prime will parallel the Magic’s prime as a team beautifully since Oladipo, Harris, Vucevic, Payton, Gordon, Hezonja are within similar age and experience brackets.

I’m actually pretty frustrated that Orlando wasn’t able to lock Evan up prior to the Nov 2nd free agency deadline. I know he’s restricted, but it just felt like 4yrs, 36 million was a fair deal for both sides at the time. Now his price tag is going up like a damn pinball machine, and if he keeps up just 85% of this level of play, he’ll command a 14+ million per year contract (see Khris Middleton, Brandon Knight).

Uptown problems I guess.

[Chilbert arenasParticipant]

 I agree with everything about Fournier and he’s really impressed this year. But I still want to see more minutes from Hezonja 

[NBAjunkie81Participant]

 smooth, seemingly effortless, slasher, shooter……. Orlando is putting together a really nice, well rounded group of young talent…..

[NBAjunkie81Participant]

 smooth, seemingly effortless, slasher, shooter……. Orlando is putting together a really nice, well rounded group of young talent…..

[Chilbert arenasParticipant]

 I agree with everything about Fournier and he’s really impressed this year. But I still want to see more minutes from Hezonja 

[Jr. ROXASParticipant]

I love Fournier’s game. He’s one of the most aggressive slashers in the league, reminds me a bit of Ginobili actually in that regard. I’m happy for him and hope he gets a nice contract next year.. with another team!! I like Fournier, but I love Hezonja more. Even though Fournier is obviously better right now, Hezonja really has more potential to be a franchise/semi-franchise player. He’s more marketable and his game has loads of potential to develop.

One situation that pretty unlikely but I’ve been thinking about (and I may get some hate for this) is moving Payton to the bench. Play Oladipo as your PG, Hezonja as an SG then Fournier to the 3 spot. You don’ lose much or any on defense, you’re long and spacing will not be a problem whatsoever. Oladipo has shown he can be really be effective at the 1, especially during his rookie year where he played a lot in that spot.

 

 

[SlickBouncePassParticipant]

Why on earth do you care abotu Hezonja’s marketability.  Do you have stock in the team?

The guys in France/Spain for some reason are really savvy ballplayers.  I will take Fournier’s combination of athleticism and IQ over Hezonja’s cockiness/athleticism.  

Hezonja is a high flier and a great energy guy off the bench for orlando right now, but Fournier is an extremely good player.

When you have guys that just know how to play without taking bad shots, man you keep that guy.

And thats the difference, why does Europe seem to produce so many of these guys while the US (as evidence of Hoop Summits) lacks so much in ball IQ.

The guys from france (Parker, Diaw, Batum, Fournier) that make it in the NBA make it for a reason, excellent ballplayers.  

 

 

 

 

  

[SlickBouncePassParticipant]

Why on earth do you care abotu Hezonja’s marketability.  Do you have stock in the team?

The guys in France/Spain for some reason are really savvy ballplayers.  I will take Fournier’s combination of athleticism and IQ over Hezonja’s cockiness/athleticism.  

Hezonja is a high flier and a great energy guy off the bench for orlando right now, but Fournier is an extremely good player.

When you have guys that just know how to play without taking bad shots, man you keep that guy.

And thats the difference, why does Europe seem to produce so many of these guys while the US (as evidence of Hoop Summits) lacks so much in ball IQ.

The guys from france (Parker, Diaw, Batum, Fournier) that make it in the NBA make it for a reason, excellent ballplayers.  

 

 

 

 

  

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Its so funny people are making more comments on Hezonja than Fournier in a Fournier thread. Mario is averaging 12-points, 2-assists, and 3-rebounds per 36-minutes. Give the guy a chance to develop into a decent rotation player before stating he is a future franchise cornerstone.

He has got to be the most overrated prospect in the league.

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Its so funny people are making more comments on Hezonja than Fournier in a Fournier thread. Mario is averaging 12-points, 2-assists, and 3-rebounds per 36-minutes. Give the guy a chance to develop into a decent rotation player before stating he is a future franchise cornerstone.

He has got to be the most overrated prospect in the league.

 

[Jr. ROXASParticipant]

I love Fournier’s game. He’s one of the most aggressive slashers in the league, reminds me a bit of Ginobili actually in that regard. I’m happy for him and hope he gets a nice contract next year.. with another team!! I like Fournier, but I love Hezonja more. Even though Fournier is obviously better right now, Hezonja really has more potential to be a franchise/semi-franchise player. He’s more marketable and his game has loads of potential to develop.

One situation that pretty unlikely but I’ve been thinking about (and I may get some hate for this) is moving Payton to the bench. Play Oladipo as your PG, Hezonja as an SG then Fournier to the 3 spot. You don’ lose much or any on defense, you’re long and spacing will not be a problem whatsoever. Oladipo has shown he can be really be effective at the 1, especially during his rookie year where he played a lot in that spot.

 

 

[GBeeParticipant]

 Rookie to 2nd year he shot 38-40% from 3 and showed better ball skill, footwork on drives and PnR potential than Afflalo ever did.  I’m not sure why anyone would’ve killed the GM for that deal.  It looked like a typical "trading an established older player for a younger player with more potential" deal.  He fit that team’s timeline more than Afflalo did.  

Interestingly enough though bc of who they have drafted, he might not fit that team’s timeline anymore.  I think his best position is clearly SG and he is obviously starting caliber, so one of him and Oladipo have to go. Given that Oladipo was a #2 overall pick, the Magic might feel more pressure to give him the push, but they’re the same age and I think Fournier’s the better player.

What he’s doing offensively isn’t a surprise given his skillset.  His maturation defensively is what has been more surprising.  He looked like a future turnstile his first few years but that hasn’t been the case under Skiles, who IMO is a perfect coach for him.

 

 

[GBeeParticipant]

 Rookie to 2nd year he shot 38-40% from 3 and showed better ball skill, footwork on drives and PnR potential than Afflalo ever did.  I’m not sure why anyone would’ve killed the GM for that deal.  It looked like a typical "trading an established older player for a younger player with more potential" deal.  He fit that team’s timeline more than Afflalo did.  

Interestingly enough though bc of who they have drafted, he might not fit that team’s timeline anymore.  I think his best position is clearly SG and he is obviously starting caliber, so one of him and Oladipo have to go. Given that Oladipo was a #2 overall pick, the Magic might feel more pressure to give him the push, but they’re the same age and I think Fournier’s the better player.

What he’s doing offensively isn’t a surprise given his skillset.  His maturation defensively is what has been more surprising.  He looked like a future turnstile his first few years but that hasn’t been the case under Skiles, who IMO is a perfect coach for him.

 

 

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