Aaron Gordon came to the Orlando Magic as a raw rookie needing time to develop. Injuries stole that opportunity from him.
Aaron Gordon’s rookie season was less something that went “wrong” than something that was disappointing. It was not even so much disappointing. It was hard to figure out.
The end of the season brought a lot of hope that Gordon was turning some type of corner. That is the positivity we will all be hanging on to this summer.
It is nowhere near time to give up on Aaron Gordon. The Magic drafted him as a project. He was not expected to be a major contributor in his rookie season.
Even so, his 5.2 points per game and 3.6 rebounds per game in 17.0 minutes per game were underwhelming. He appeared in just 47 games after missing 33 games with a fracture in his foot. The Magic rightly made sure to take their time before moving him back into the lineup.
By then the Magic were struggling to score and Gordon could not find his way back into the rotation. Nor could he really establish himself or get completely healthy. He said he did not feel 100 percent until March.
It is tough being a 19 year old playing at such an intense level and being hurt. He said at this level everyone can take advantage at the slightest weakness.
When Gordon finally got healthy at the end of the season, he showed his defensive prowess and began asserting himself more offensively. It was a promising finish.
There is still no denying, however, the frustration that was this season for the fourth overall pick. And a lot of that frustration was frankly out of Gordon’s control. He did nothing wrong and he would most likely call this season a frustration as much as fans would.
The number next to him on the draft board in Barclays Center probably has more to do with that than anything.
Orlando had essentially tanked two seasons on the hope of getting one of the star players in the 2014 Draft. The Magic ended up drafting fourth in essentially a three-player draft. Gordon gets saddled with that expectation completely unfairly.
Was there a better pick out there for the Magic? It is hard to judge on one year, but you do the comparison:
4. Aaron Gordon
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Generated 4/21/2015.
5. Dante Exum
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6. Marcus Smart
| Season | G | MP | eFG% | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-15 | 67 | 27.0 | .462 | .646 | 3.3 | 3.1 | 1.5 | 7.8 |
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Generated 4/21/2015.
8. Nik Stauskas
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9. Noah Vonleh
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Generated 4/21/2015.
Looking at the picks (not included there is Julius Randle who played just one game before breaking his leg), there were not many good options picked from 4-10, when Elfrid Payton was selected.
If Payton was truly the Magic’s guy, it seems any player the Magic would have taken would not have lived up to the billing of that No. 4.
Gordon’s frustration this season was more than that. His injury seemed to occur right when he was starting to get a good feel for the NBA.
He had scored 21 points and made seven of eight shots in the three games prior to his injury. He had found comfort making effort plays and giving his all for the 15 minutes per game he was given. It was not much, but it was a great base to build upon through 11 games.
And this does not even mention the 17-point effort in the overtime win over Minnesota at home, perhaps his best game of the entire season.
Gordon still has a bright future. He did not have a bad season. Just a frustrating one. One that was completely unavoidable.
For sure though, the Magic would have liked to see him make it through all 82 games and build over the course of the season. Fans would have liked to see that just to see a tangible return on investment for two years of heartache and Lottery hope.
Gordon was not going to be able to deliver that in one year. He certainly never had the chance this year.
For that reason, Gordon’s frustrating season has to be viewed as a negative at worst, and the biggest what if of the season at best.