National Basketball Association

Orlando Magic's backcourt is unsustainable

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 7:48 p.m. ET

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Fansided, Joe Buckley/FanSided via Orlando Magic Daily

Dec 3, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) and forward Evan Fournier (10) celebrate after beating the Utah Jazz 103-94 at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports

The Orlando Magic have a glut in the frontcourt. But their backcourt duo of Elfrid Payton and Evan Fournier have raised questions of their own this year.

One of the truths of the NBA is that both great teams and bad teams will have their rosters examined endlessly.

The Golden State Warriors are lauded for their versatile squad containing multiple shooters, team defenders and lethal bench players. Other teams receive similar scrutiny, but for worse reasons. Why did they sign this player? Can these two work together? They traded for him?

Every year 29 teams are trying to figure out what did not work and how to get better. And, more importantly, where to invest their future.

The Orlando Magic’s construction is a constant sore spot for fans, media and likely the players themselves. Questionable trades made last year involving Tobias Harris and Victor Oladipo have not yielded positive results. Every move has been analyzed to death, especially in the face of this team’s struggles to stay in a tight Playoff race.

Every move has been analyzed to death, especially in the face of this team’s struggles to stay in a tight Playoff race.

While the newcomers like Serge Ibaka and Jeff Green, or the obviously talented youngsters like Aaron Gordon, are often talked about, none provide the same amount of controversy as the Orlando Magic’s backcourt.

It is the age of the point guard. The last two seasons, the MVP has been a point guard. He will be again this year. The All-Star spots at guard are indeed the hardest to call and the Eastern Conference roster is full of point guards. The backcourt has never been more important.

The Magic’s backcourt is made up with Elfrid Payton and Evan Fournier principally and backed up by D.J. Augustin and C.J. Watson. While talent lies in these names, as a group they have struggled to help the team this season.

But why? Is it the parts or the whole that they create?

Considering the need for quality backcourts, we need to ask, is this a backcourt the Magic can move forward with?

Jan 20, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) dribbles after stealing the ball from Milwaukee Bucks forward Jabari Parker (12) during the second half at Amway Center. Orlando Magic defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 112-96. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Parts

Elfrid Payton

Elfrid Payton has managed to hold down the starting job since his very impressive rookie year (in which he recorded two triple-doubles, and came incredibly close to earning another three), despite the constant experiments with his bench play and switching roles with Victor Oladipo.

While Payton has been successful and certainly brings some of the best effort on the team, his style is more old school than new.

Payton’s biggest weakness is his jump shot. That is seemingly a necessity in the NBA today.

He shoots 43.8 percent from the field for his career (with a career-best 45.5 percent this year), and just 59.0 percent from the free throw line (again, a career-high this year at 65.6 percent). Defenses often take advantage. His defense is exemplary but many

His defense is exemplary, but many question whether a point guard without a strong jumper can run a successful team. Just ask the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Ricky Rubio.

Evan Fournier

Evan Fournier is playing many more minutes at the shooting guard spot with Victor Oladipo’s departure (89 percent of his minutes are spent at shooting guard, up from 51 percent last year).

Fournier really exemplifies the ‘shooting’ part of his position’s name. In many ways, Fournier is the mirror to Payton. Fournier is an offensive talent (though it must be said that his 3-point percentage for the year is the lowest of his career).

Fournier is still finding it difficult to provide the Magic with other aspects to the game than his offense. Having said that, Fournier is averaging career highs in points, rebounds and assists. It is just deciding whether this jump in numbers is helping the team or not. Or whether he can sustain his play in this role or needs a more secondary role.

D.J. Augustin

D.J. Augustin straddles the line between starter and bench player, having started 20 games and come off the pine in the other 27. Of all Magic players, Augustin comes closest to ‘typical point guard’ status, likely a reason why the team went after him in the summer.

Augustin never quite found his groove as a NBA starter, but he has been solid at times for the Magic.

Unfortunately, he is shooting 39.3 percent from the field for the year. Almost all of his numbers, traditional and advanced, have dropped from last year where he split his time between the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder.

Jan 4, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Evan Fournier (10) drives to the basket as Atlanta Hawks forward Kent Bazemore (24) defends during the second quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The whole

So, when injuries and minutes are all counted up, it would be fair to say the Magic backcourt primarily consists of Elfrid Payton, D.J. Augustin and Evan Fournier. Or, in another voice, one who cannot shoot, one who can only shoot and an enigma perhaps playing a role he is ill-suited for.

There is no true blueprint for backcourts anymore. Gone are the days where a point guard would definitely be shorter than 6-foot-4 and primarily concerned with passing, while a shooting guard would be a 6-foot-6 shooter. The NBA has evolved to the point where almost anyone can be almost anything.

So should the Magic be given a pass as another unique combination?

Looking at the top three teams in each conference, with a quick breakdown of their backcourt:

Cleveland Cavaliers: One all-star, top scorer with little defense (Kyrie Irving), one top-level defender (Iman Shumpert).

Toronto Raptors: Two all-stars (Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan), both top level scorers, one hyper-athletic, one great floor general

Boston Celtics: One all star, a top-level scorer (Isaiah Thomas); one top level defender with an improved offense (Avery Bradly).

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Golden State Warriors: Two all-stars, unrivaled shooting ability (Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson).

San Antonio Spurs: One veteran playmaker and inside scorer (Tony Parker), one premier defender with great shooting (Danny Green).

Houston Rockets: One premier defender (Patrick Beverley), one top level scorer and playmaker (James Harden).

If the Magic starters are categorized as a good defender with playmaking ability, and a good scorer with little defense, we can see that is rarely a winning combination.

Perhaps it is not fair to compare the Magic to the top-level teams right now. Then again, what is successful is consistent with the rest of the league too. Neither Payton nor Fournier is elite at anything and do not project to get there.

Take the Washington Wizards, a team much closer to the Magic’s fortunes. They feature a guard lacking a reliable jumper paired with someone whose main strength is shooting. Like the Magic.

The problem? Elfrid Payton is not John Wall. Evan Fournier is not Bradley Beal.

Wall cannot shoot, but possesses elite speed and playmaking ability. And Beal is one of the best shooters in the entire league. They have elite skills and play off each other well (despite some protestations to the contrary). It is no wonder the Wizards have suddenly shot up to the third seed in the Eastern Conference after their rough start.

Essentially it comes down to this: The Magic backcourt needs changing. The experiments must end, a decision must be made on how to move forward and improve. It is unclear whether Payton or Fournier can truly work together on a winning team.

After this season, there is certainly evidence they cannot.

Jan 20, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) and center Bismack Biyombo (11) high five against the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half at Amway Center. Orlando Magic defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 112-96. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Which direction to go?

It is a tough call to make. Payton is leading the defense and one of the most energetic players on the court. He has good court vision and the Magic can rely on him to force the issue inside. He is still only 22, it is his third season and he has a lot of room to add to his game.

Fournier has been paid on a big contract, and is the best source of perimeter offense on the team. In fact, with Jodie Meeks injured and Mario Hezonja buried on the bench still, Fournier is about the only reliable outside scorer the Magic have. If the team moved him, who is the new option (unless it is an excuse to get Mario Hezonja on the court). Fournier is only 24, so by no means ancient.

If it comes to trades, Payton is normally mentioned more often, being younger and on a cheaper contract, but little is being talked of right now with the whispers of Serge Ibaka’s impending trade.

When pushed, I say stick with Payton and move on from Fournier.

Perhaps it is possible an Ibaka trade could allow Fournier to slide back to small forward if a guard comes back. But if it is really a matter of having to keep one or the other,  keep the younger, cheaper guard with the bigger upside, who genuinely wants to play both sides of the ball and is an injection of energy in an often lazy team, and not to mention is the healthier of the two.

But the problem goes deeper. The team should never have been put in this position. Moving one or the other was not going to solve all the problems. Payton still has a deficiency and the Magic are still in need of some elite guard talent.

The Magic simply do not know where they are going with their backcourt.

It was the same last year, when Oladipo and Payton would be taken in and out of the lineup, played together then played apart. There was no rhyme or consistency, and the backcourt’s fate has not improved this year.

Even looking past Fournier and Payton, the Magic still play Augustin and Payton together a lot of the time, skewing normal rotations and confusing fans at the same time.

Numbers-wise, Payton, Fournier and Augustin have all improved from last year numbers wise. But it has failed to have any impact on the win column.

It is easy to point to the glut of bigs down low, but people wanting answers should spare a thought for those out on the perimeter too.

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