Aaron Gordon is the biggest mystery on the Orlando Magic roster. He should continue to grow but the Orlando Magic are also looking for more. Can he deliver?
The Orlando Magic’s original plan for a rebuild was pretty clear. The Draft that would end up mattering would come two years in. The Draft that featured Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker. At the time, both seemed surefire stars to build a team around.
This draft, regardless of where the Magic ended up, would form the foundation for the Magic’s future one way or the other.
When Orlando ended up fourth, the plan certainly faced a setback. But the player would still be incredibly important in that loaded class. Just as the next player would be.
And so Aaron Gordon is important. Vitally important for the Magic and their future.
Many pieces have changed. It was a summer of change for the Magic. Several players that seemed key in the first year of the rebuild were moved on. The directive became clear with the Magic to make the Playoffs.
And that direction means young players have to find their role and define themselves or see themselves moving on.
That means more pressure on the fourth overall pick from the 2014 NBA Draft in Aaron Gordon.
That large investment in his potential has to start making pay this year. The third year of any career is incredibly important as contract considerations begin to come into play. For the Magic and for Gordon, that question will not be far from their minds throughout.
Gordon faces the biggest season of his young career at the same time the Magic do. Everything the last four years has built toward will come to a head this year. Most especially for the young, and still raw Gordon.
Quite simply, Gordon will have to define himself this year one way or another. And the Magic need to find a clearer definition and role for him. To accomplish their goals, the Magic need this all-important draft pick to take the next step in his career.
And the Magic need it to be a big step.
Next: What to look for