Evan Fournier was the team’s leading scorer last year and a consistent offensive option. The Orlando Magic are expecting the same thing as others step up.

Evan Fournier’s career has been a slow march upward.

Undeniably so. He has increased his scoring average in each of his six seasons. That is no small feat. And something that unfortunately has gotten overlooked.

Fournier has established himself as a consistent offensive option. Granted that might be on a team that has been anything but consistent offensively for much of his time in an Orlando Magic uniform. No one has ever pretended Fournier is something that he is not.

Last year, Fournier was his typically reliable self, adding a little something to his game but largely providing the same relative consistency he has throughout his time with Orlando. His 17.8 points per game led the team in scoring and his 37.9 percent 3-point field goal percentage was one of the best on the team.

So much of what Fournier did was easy to overlook but was necessary for any kind of success for the team. Last year for Fournier, he returned to a level of efficiency he needs to have success in the league.

If anything, last year confirmed what Fournier is good at and how best to use him. The Magic often ask him to do too much in the course of the game. Putting the ball in his hands and asking him to break down a defense on his own was never the way to get the most out of him. Fournier has always worked better as a secondary scorer.

Last year, the Magic could at least return him partially to that role with Aaron Gordon taking on a larger scoring role. And it worked well for him.

Fournier will continue to be a reliable offensive player. Probably the most reliable and consistent offensive player on the roster. That is not likely to change. Fournier will hit key 3-pointers and help space the floor, attacking when the time is right.

Fournier’s weaknesses as a defender have not changed. And the Magic likely will ask too much of him once again offensively.

And Fournier will keep putting in the reliable work he has done throughout his entire career.