Aaron Gordon is a defensive 3, at least
THE Question
Not much is still known about Aaron Gordon or what he can be or where his future is. The Orlando Magic’s decision to play him at the 3 has seemingly opened up more possibilities while also raising more questions about where he fits in the modern NBA.
Gordon is a tweener. And the Magic have only made his “tweener-ness” more confusing this year with his success and failures at the position.
His offense is more than a work in progress. It is unclear whether he can expand his game on the perimeter consistently. But one thing is very clear: His defense
But one thing is very clear: His on-ball defense is very good. It is trending toward elite. And for that reason, it would seem playing him at small forward makes sense and continues to make sense.
"“That’s the value in moving him to small forward — he’s bigger, stronger, and longer than most of the guys he’s guarding,” Vogel told Kurt Helin of Pro Basketball Talk. “He’s got good size to him, where if he’s guarding power forwards and doing a good job maybe he’s undersized against most of those guys. There is value with what we’re doing with him playing small forward…. “He’s got all the athleticism in the world to do it, and it’s not been about blitzing pick-and-rolls and banging in the post, but about chasing guys off screens and guarding the ball.”"
That fit feels very natural. And if there is one thing anyone can definitively say about Gordon it is that his perimeter defense on wing players is a necessity.
Gordon is a small forward . . . defensively.
That remains a challenge Gordon looks forward to every night. He wants to be Defensive Player of the Year. He has the attitude that he will start his game defensively more than offensively.
“If they want to attack me, so be it,” Gordon said. “Go for it. It’s not going to be an easy look for you, I will tell you that much.”
Next: Orlando Magic front office debates Aaron Gordon question too
Where Gordon ends up for his career remains a mystery. He has found his place on one end of the floor. And that might be where he makes the rest of his career.