Orlando Magic small forward Evan Fournier sees the writing on the wall, telling local reporters on Monday that if the team doesn't make the playoffs this season, the roster will likely be broken up by the front office in the offseason.
The Magic haven't made the postseason since 2012, the final season of the Dwight Howard era. After defeating the Atlanta Hawks on Monday, Orlando improved to 20-27, putting them at the 11th spot in the Eastern Conference standings.
Evan Fournier, who has been with the Magic since 2014, says he and big man Nikola Vucevic want to stay in Orlando, but that they realize what's at stake this year.
.@OrlandoMagic G Evan Fournier on impassioned speech given by Nikola Vucevic Sat: "We’re not stupid; we know that if we don’t make the playoffs this year, this is probably it for us. Just like (Vucevic) and myself, we like it (in Orlando) and we like to play with each other."
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) January 21, 2019
Vucevic will become an unrestricted free agent after this season ends, while Fournier has two years left on his contract.
The Magic are 2.5 games out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the East. The roster, led by Vucevic, Fournier and Aaron Gordon, has the talent to make the postseason in the East, but the team has just had trouble staying consistent this season.
Evan Fournier is reportedly being pursued by teams as the trade deadline approaches. The 26-year-old entered Monday averaging 14.8 points per game while shooting 42.9 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from beyond the arc.
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