Evan Fournier and Aaron Gordon Appreciation Thread

[axl_c_cool]

All the best to both of them, worked hard, and neither put in their role (Gordon PF who does everything, Evan 6th man/3rd best scorer) so we failed them. Hope they succeed in their next steps!

[drsd]

Kinda sad about both leaving. I been following AG since his crazy hs mix tape and was excited when we drafted him. I wouldn’t call him a bust but he wasn’t the player I thought he would be. He shown flashes of being an all star but he’s just never consistent. I think he’ll do great in Denver, especially playing with a superstar in Jokic and great player in Murray.

It was inevitable, but seeing it hurts.


..

[drsd]

Kinda sad about both leaving. I been following AG since his crazy hs mix tape and was excited when we drafted him. I wouldn’t call him a bust but he wasn’t the player I thought he would be. He shown flashes of being an all star but he’s just never consistent. I think he’ll do great in Denver, especially playing with a superstar in Jokic and great player in Murray.

It was inevitable, but seeing it hurts.


..

[drsd]

This is ACE !!!!

From Fournier:

Read on Twitter

[RookieStar]

Best of luck to you both!!

I wanted to keep AG deep down but this is for the best for both the org and AG himself.

[EasternMagic]

Honestly, Evan seemed to love this team and this city more than AG throughout his tenure. And I don't really fault AG for that. But my big props go to Evan. He was frustrating at times, but he pretty much always played hard. He was honest in his pressers. He was a funny guy, and we know he's played an important role in Chuma's real rookie year. I'm actually kind of sad about losing Evan. I think fans here are in for a harsh reality, realizing that finding a SG who averages 20 a game is not super normal. BUT I'm excited for our future and do agree this was the right move.

I'm rooting for Evan in Boston, but really wherever he ends up next year. He was loyal to Orlando and I've got nothing but love for him for that. Good luck, Evan! I wish you and your family well. And please, continue to let your son place your cupping therapy devices on you.

[Max Power]

I’ll be the first to admit Fournier drove me nuts sometimes but the guy always brought it on the court and is a class act. I hope he does well wherever he ends up long term.

As for Gordon, he was very physically gifted, really brought the effort during our playoff runs, but I also kinda viewed him as a bit of a malcontent. Hopefully he reaches his best with the Nuggets.

[Def Swami]

More Champagne!

[Bensational]

I think this is a fantastic opportunity for Gordon to really blossom as a player, and maybe even compete for a ring. He'll have the kind of structure around him to keep him in his most efficient lane possible. I'm going to enjoy watching Denver for the rest of the season.

Fournier will bring some fire to Boston. They'll be loaded with clutch options in the playoffs. I hope to see his big fiery scream after a dagger 3 in the playoffs this season, since the Magic won't be there.

[PigsEatHam]

I'm grateful for both players for their time with the team. They were consummate pros during an undoubtedly tough stretch for the franchise. The peak of Gordon's career with the Magic were those two dunk contests he clearly won (despite being robbed of the title), and I'm glad that those highlights that will live for decades will feature Stuff, an Orlando jersey, and Gordon's otherworldly athleticism. He's going to thrive in Denver, and I'll be rooting for him.

Fournier was a great find in the Afflalo trade, and he played to the fullest of his abilities in Orlando. I always appreciated how into the games he was. How much he cared. Whenever we knocked down a game winner, even if he wasn't the one who shot it, he was one of the most intense charging the court and screaming. Dude is a competitor, and I think he'll really enjoy Boston--a city as passionate about their sports as he is. He'll be fun to watch in the playoffs with the Cs.

I wish them both the best.

[SOUL]

Read on Twitter

[MagicStarwipe]

I think they both deserve their own threads with how long they've been here, but i'll play along.

Evan,

You are the straightest shooter both on and off the court this team has had since JJ Redick. One of the few players that kept it real in interviews. Though you may have arrived here with a lot more hair on your head, you leave with a lot more L's, career experience and a lifelong buddy. I will miss your lights out corner shooting. I will not miss your playing with blinders and James Harden impersonations. You'll do great with the Celtics. Good luck.

------------------

Aaron,

Thank you for the highlights, the dunk contests (GOAT), that one summer league that made you look like prime T-Mac and the always positive attitude. I will miss your gravity defying dunks. I will not miss your gravity compliant fade aways. Let Jokic find you for 5 dunks a game and don't try to do too much. You'll do great in Denver. Go see if you can win a 'chip this year. Wouldn't that be neat?

[CPBalla2003 n da 863]

Evan, Watching you grow over the years and I met you a few times and was very nice to speak with the fans for a minute or so. Such a nice human being and play with some intensity. I wish you the best in Boston, I know you are going to do well over there. Didn't bite your tounge and represented the city well... You was asked to do too much here and you deserve to continue your career with some more playoff berths... good luck "More Champagne!"

AG, The Highflyer and rep the "O" like no other. You have all the tools to be so much better than you are and I hope your game still grows and you get to learn from Mike Malone... such a great coach for your continued development. Same with Evan, your role was a bit doing too much here, but I think you can thrive over there with an unselfish Superstar Big man, similar to what you had here for some time. Best of Luck Double00AG!

[fendilim]

Glad we’re finally over with that era.

Evan arrived as expected. When he was traded here, there were a lot of negative reactions because he was traded for AA, who was having a career year. But his per36 numbers proved to be almost identical.

Gordon never developed into the player the team hoped he would be.

Good luck to both! Hope they both succeed in their future roles.


Edit: I’d love to give a shoutout to the silent posters:

T12 (who hated on me for saying AG is nothing but a 3&D player)
Instincts (for his unwavering belief that Gordon will breakout into a star)

I wish the best for your mental health.

[NEM]

Now that that era of magic basketball is over, it feels a little sad, not gonna lie.

Evan, to me, exceeded expectations. He put up 20 a night efficiently, and that’s not easy to do in the NBA consistently. I think we will come to find that out real quick. He was put in tough situations being the only true playmaker a lot of times, when I was always felt he was best suited as a Ginobili type. Good luck, Evan!

AG’s greatest gift to Orlando were the two dunk championships. Outside of that, he will be remembered as a guy who was super inconsistent, and probably not used correctly most of the time here. Very excited to see how he does as a 4th or 5th option with great play makers like Jokic and Campazzo around him. Good luck, AG!

[Message Boar]

Now that that era of magic basketball is over, it feels a little sad, not gonna lie.

Evan, to me, exceeded expectations. He put up 20 a night efficiently, and that’s not easy to do in the NBA consistently. I think we will come to find that out real quick. He was put in tough situations being the only true playmaker a lot of times, when I was always felt he was best suited as a Ginobili type. Good luck, Evan!

AG’s greatest gift to Orlando were the two dunk championships. Outside of that, he will be remembered as a guy who was super inconsistent, and probably not used correctly most of the time here. Very excited to see how he does as a 4th or 5th option with great play makers like Jokic and Campazzo around him. Good luck, AG!

Agree with the above. I'm more emotional about yesterday's events than I was expecting to be. With a touch of melancholy, even though rationally tearing it down was a good move.

I got a little tired of watching Evan play near the end there, but I did appreciate his offensive abilities. Also I would add that I enjoyed watching AG play defense when he was locked in and motivated.

[Bergmaniac]

All the best to them in their new teams, it was time for a change, but I'll miss them, especially Evan.

Fans, including me at times, were way too hard for stuff that wasn't their fault, namely that due to the lack of talent on the rosters they were asked to do more than they were really comfortable with. On a better team we wouldn't have asked them to be the ballhandlers in pick and rolls so often or to iso as much as they did but that's what happens when most of our PGs over the years couldn't shoot or were limited in other ways offensively and when we could never find the star perimeter scorer and creator we badly needed.

[SD2042]

I will say this. Both guys were dealt a hand in which they played to the best of what they both produced during their time with the Magic.

To Evan:

I can say that with Evan, I didn't always see eye to eye to his fit on the team based on the previous roster and the circumstances that was attached to the team. He was asked t od omore than he could. Although he tried his best, the team previously structure wasn't the best fit for him. He did hit his far share of clutch shots when it mattered most. That I cannot take from him. Evan to me has and will always be that complimentary player that can give you the points he's been producing for quite a while. Now that he's gone to Boston for the duration of his contract, I can see him in a better situation when he doesn't have to be the secondary option when he can be the Sixth Man for a team like the Celtic for now. That said, I'm expecting Fournier to be on a team team once the offseason hits this summer. I wish Evan the best as he ventures on to the Celtics and make the best out of his situation.


To Aaron:

Aaron was that player I hoped to become an all-star as he continue his development as a Magic player. I remember when he was picked by this team, I envision that he could be a key player to help the Magic continue to get better during the early rebuilding from a few seasons ago. Like Even, AG also went through several coaching changes throughout his career. The likely culprit to why some expectations of his career hasn't flourish as most ppl have hope. I can say that AG has grown as a defender who can play either forward position. His offense isn't as efficient as it should be. He has proven to be a danger when he finds himself in transition offense mode. Plus he's been in two All Star NBA Dunk Events. One should been a tie with Zach LaVine. The other he should've won no thanks to bias with Dwyane Wade and miscommunication with the Slam Dunk Judges. With AG going to the Nuggets, he will be in a better situation as he will have the opportunity to fit into the Nuggets fold at his PF position and hopefully improves his offense overall. I wish AG00 the best as he goes forward to his new team in the Nuggets.