Evan Fournier was thrust to the forefront of the Orlando Magic’s present upon the shocking trade that sent Victor Oladipo to the Oklahoma City Thunder. And after less than one full day of free agency, it’s clear the talented guard will be a fixture of the future for Frank Vogel’s team, too.
Marc Spears of The Undefeated reports that Fournier has agreed to a five-year, $85 million deal that will keep him in Orlando through the 2020-21 season.
Evan Fournier gets a five-year, $85 million contract extension to stay in Orlando, source told @TheUndefeated.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) July 1, 2016
That the 23-year-old Frenchman will end up re-signing with the Magic is no surprise. GM Rob Hennigan made it clear Fournier was his team’s top priority this summer in the immediate wake of Oladipo’s departure. What’s a bit vexing, though, is why the former Denver Nuggets guard opted against testing restricted free agency in hopes of driving up the price it would take for the Magic to retain him.
But Fournier’s financial “loss” – if that exists in this salary-cap climate, of course – is certainly Orlando’s gain. There’s a chance he could have signed an offer sheet worth upwards of $20 million per season if he’d taken meetings with opposing teams. Instead, the Magic are getting a sweet-shooting pick-and-roll playmaker for a full five years at a number at or below market value.
Maybe Fournier simply knew he wanted to stay in Orlando? This marriage, basically, certainly seems like a good one for both sides.
