Aaron Gordon is finding his place in the NBA

1 of 5

Aaron Gordon, Orlando Magic, DeMar DeRozan, Toronto Raptors

Jan 29, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) controls a ball as Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon (00) tries to defend during the second quarter in a game at Air Canada Centre. The Orlando Magic won 114-113. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /

Amidst a turbulent season for the Orlando Magic, Aaron Gordon is making lemonade out of his tenure at small forward — carving out a distinct role for himself as a top-tier defender.

The most important part of sustaining a successful NBA career is creating an identity. Unless you are LeBron James and can do just about everything at an elite level, the difference between an Anthony Bennett and a Robert Horry is whether a player can find one or two things at which he can excel and use that to carve out a niche.

If a player is not quite a perennial All Star, having a niche is what makes teams want to trade for you, sign you and give you important long-term roles. Even Kwame Brown, the notorious draft “bust,” managed to sustain a long career because he settled into roles that highlighted his defense and rebounding.

Aaron Gordon’s ceiling is still much higher than that. But finding a niche is still is a huge and important step for any young player, especially for one whose place in the NBA and on the Orlando Magic has been so unstable and contested.

He has plenty of time left to develop a consistent shot and to improve his ball-handling skills in the hopes of becoming an All-Star-caliber player, but even if that never happens, Gordon can hang his hat on his elite perimeter defense.

Playing small forward has given Gordon his fair share of troubles.

Early in the season, he showed he clearly does not have the skill set to play the “Paul George” role coach Frank Vogel initially asked of him. His three-point shooting and pick-and-roll ball handling, among other things, have ranged anywhere from mediocre to near abysmal.

But, because of the team’s awkward frontcourt construction, he remains at that position.

It is obviously not a good fit for his offensive game, but playing the 3 might help him continue to develop tools he will need to sustain a long career. If he can solidify his place as a strong wing defender, that will give the Magic good reason to keep him around for a long time.