Orlando Magic Daily Mailbag Volume 19: Everyone is thinking about it already

If you had asked me this at the beginning of the season, I would have said absolutely. Aaron Gordon should play primarily at power forward.

Sitting here now, today? I am still not sure.

Gordon’s perimeter defense is stellar. He is a future all-defensive team player. I have no doubt about that. And keeping him on the perimeter guarding the best wing player feels like an absolute necessity. That means you have to play him at the 3.

But, yes, his offensive game is still somewhat limited. And his offense in the half court has been most successful when they get him closer to the basket.

The plan to use him in pick and rolls has been disastrous — 0.47 points per possession — and the Magic have scaled back his on-ball responsibilities.

The trick with Gordon, it seems, is to play him like a power forward on offense, while keeping him at small forward on defense. That is a tough player to pair. And Serge Ibaka is not exactly the flexible kind of big to do that successfully.

Gordon continues to improve as a shooter. His percentages are still pretty low, but he has been shooting a lot more comfortably and confidently.

And he had games like he had Wednesday night against the L.A. Clippers, Gordon can be pretty special, even at small forward.

The jury is still out. Put me firmly in the maybe camp. But I might quietly think his future is at small forward.