Shortly after the 2013-14 season, the Orlando Magic and Denver Nuggets pulled off what was then seen as a small trade as the Magic shipped Arron Afflalo to the Nuggets for Devyn Marble and Evan Fournier. Since then, Afflalo has more or less become a journeyman while Fournier has blossomed into a solid, young scorer for Orlando. After averaging a career-best 15.4 ppg in 2015-16, Fournier knows he’ll have to do more this season if the Magic are to reach the playoffs, writes Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel:

Fournier worked on his mid-range game all summer, hoping it will round out his offensive game and complement his skills as a finisher and long-range shooter.

The Magic hope Fournier’s step-back jumper will symbolize upcoming growth. The franchise made a massive commitment to him during the offseason. First, the team traded another young wing player, Victor Oladipo, opening playing time for Fournier at shooting guard. The team then re-signed Fournier to a five-year contract worth $85 million.

“There’s a reason we invested in Evan Fournier,” coach Frank Vogel said. “He’s a heck of a basketball player.”

Fournier might have to prove Vogel correct for the team to reach the playoffs this season. Fournier and Vucevic are the biggest scoring threats in the Magic’s projected starting lineup, and Fournier will attempt to improve on his breakout performance of last year, when he averaged 15.4 points per game.

He also must make a transition defensively. Instead of guarding bigger and stronger small forwards, as he did most of last year, he’ll be asked to guard quick, agile shooting guards. Fournier will have to chase shooters and fight through screens more often this year.

“I did a little bit of everything last year, so it’s not going to be new to me,” Fournier said after the Magic finished practice Tuesday at Quicken Loans Arena. “It’s just going to be different from last year. I’m looking forward to it. I really worked on my body this summer. I feel like I’m stronger. It’s going to be a great challenge.”

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“He just has a great rhythm, a great pace to his offensive game,” Vogel said, referring to Fournier. “He doesn’t force too much and he’s a great reader of defense. He’s got that shot-making as well that makes everything a little more fluid.”

Fournier excels at finishing at the rim and at shooting from long range.

So he focused his offseason energies on his mid-range shooting and on getting stronger.

“It’s going to pay off,” Fournier said. “I’m pretty confident.”