Evan Fournier was one of the players from last season that the Orlando Magic needed to keep. On Friday, they did just that. According to a tweet by ESPN’s Marc Spears, the Magic and Fournier have agreed to a five-year, $85 million contract extension.
Evan Fournier gets a five-year, $85 million contract extension to stay in Orlando, source told @TheUndefeated.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN) July 1, 2016
Entering this summer, Fournier was a restricted free agent for the Magic. After averaging the third-most points on last year’s squad with 15.4 points per game—behind only center Nikola Vucevic (18.2) and recently-traded guard Victor Oladipo (16.0)—Fournier’s contract extension makes it apparent that the 23-year-old was a priority for Orlando general manager Rob Hennigan and the front office.
With the drastic salary-cap increase this season, Fournier is looking at a significant pay raise. In the 2015-16 season, Fournier made a base salary of $2.28 million. Starting this season, Fournier will be making around $17 million a year.
Per the Orlando Sentinel‘s Josh Robbins, Fournier said he was intent on staying in Orlando following a workout on Thursday.
“Obviously, our priority is the Magic,” he said. “I’ve said it many times: I feel great here.”
Fournier was an important piece for the Magic squad a season ago. He started in 71 of the 79 games he played in, attempted the most three-pointers on the team (390) and shot 40 percent from beyond the arc, second to only Ersan Ilyasova (.409). Additionally, Fournier attributed for 5.7 win shares, the most by any Magic player.
Jodie Meeks, a recent trade acquisition from the Detroit Pistons, will probably be Fournier’s toughest competition for the starting 2 job. The 28-year-old has played for four different teams. His best statistical season was with the depleted Los Angeles Lakers squad of the 2013-14 season., where he averaged 15.7 points per game on a career-high 46.3 percent field-goal rate in 70 starts.
The Magic still have interest in acquiring unrestricted free agent and three-time Sixth Man of the Year Award winner Jamal Crawford. They also agreed to a four-year deal with point guard D.J. Augustin early Friday morning.
Free agents will not be able to officially sign contracts until July 7.
[…] time solidifying deals. After agreeing to deals with point guard D.J. Augustin and shooting guard Evan Fournier, the Magic have now also agreed to a one-year deal with Jeff Green, according to a report by […]