Report: Aaron Gordon limited early in camp with sprained ankle

Aaron Gordon sprained his ankle during a recent workout and will miss the beginning of camp, according to a report from the Orlando Sentinel.

Aaron Gordon will be limited to start training camp after suffering a sprained ankle during a recent workout, Magic general manager Rob Hennigan told Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel.

Hennigan said Gordon “tweaked” his ankle during a recent workout. It is not a serious injury but should keep Gordon out for the first few practices of training camp. Hennigan told the Orlando Sentinel he expects Gordon to be ready for the first preseason game in Memphis on Oct. 4.

It is a frustrating, but relatively minor setback for Gordon.

More than anyone, Gordon needs training camp to cement and clarify his role. He has been a clean slate for a long time. A player who is a bundle of potential.

Last season, Gordon’s expected improvement hit a speed bump. He looked like the best player in Summer League and ready to take a big leap before a jaw injury in late July cut short his summer. He was able to participate in non-contact drills but could not get fully engaged in practice under Scott Skiles.

It certainly took him some time to get going.

But Gordon still had a strong season. He averaged 12.0 points and 7.3 rebounds per game as the full-time starter following the Tobias Harris trade. Gordon really seemed to come into his own.

A full summer of work was supposed to get him on the right track and begin defining him as a player. With Frank Vogel as the new head coach, there is a clearer role and direction for him. Likely at the small forward position rather than at power forward as he played the majority of his minutes last year.

Gordon needed an offseason to get better and prepare for his new role.

It appears he had that and the Magic expect him to play the 3 and become sort of the Magic’s Paul George in some way.

Frank Vogel told Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel he envisions big things for Gordon to add to the defense:

"Let’s see what he can do. I think he’s more of a 4 than Paul was. Paul is more of a 2/3. Aaron’s more of a 3/4. But I’ve seen a lot on tape that I think that he can do a lot of similar things. And, more importantly, by playing him at small forward we’re going to be really long defensively, which has always been sort of a trademark of those defensive teams in Indy, which is just to have length and athleticism on the perimeter and really at all positions. The difference between those teams and this team is the athleticism of our bigs: Bismack [Biyombo] and Serge [Ibaka] and their ability to switch and guard. It’s what we didn’t have in Indy. I think we can be in some ways better. But we’re going to have to see how good we are defensively with our perimeter guys."

The ankle injury is certainly a setback though. A minor setback. Nowhere near as big as the jaw injury that knocked him out for most of training camp last year. Gordon still had an entire summer to get ready for the season and improve.

A sprained ankle will keep him out a few days, but not reverse or slow any of that progress.

After all, Evan Fournier missed the beginning of training camp last year after suffering a sprained ankle in Eurobasket playing for France. And then he had a breakout year. Maybe the time off for Gordon will be OK, so long as he continues to learn and soak in the new information from a new coach.

For Gordon, it is surely frustrating to miss the beginning of camp. Fortunately the injury is not severe and the team is playing cautious with one of its more important players.

Next: Orlando Magic Player Outlook: D.J. Augustin

The Magic will be wait for him. And Gordon should be ready to go soon.