Orlando Magic Daily
Fansided

Five promising statistics for the Orlando Magic in 2018

By Philip Rossman-Reich

The Orlando Magic's Aaron Gordon (00) dunks against the Detroit Pistons during the first half at the Amway Center in Orlando, Fla., on Friday, March 24, 2017. The Magic won, 115-87. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel/TNS via Getty Images)
The Orlando Magic's Aaron Gordon (00) dunks against the Detroit Pistons during the first half at the Amway Center in Orlando, Fla., on Friday, March 24, 2017. The Magic won, 115-87. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel/TNS via Getty Images) /
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Aaron Gordon, Orlando Magic, Cleveland Cavaliers
ORLANDO, FL – MARCH 11: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic dunks against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the game on March 11, 2017 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Aaron Gordon’s scoring: 16.4

Aaron Gordon is the future of the Orlando Magic. Or, at least, he was last year.

Despite two years under his belt, the team still did not know quite what it had. It still felt like he was the rookie full of limitless potential in need of definition. Even though he had played two years, he felt like he could be formed into anything.

Maybe if he had been healthy his first two years and the Magic had a better sense of what he could do as a player, they would have done things differently in developing the team. As things stood, the Magic opted to move Gordon to small forward, putting him on the perimeter. They believed he could form fit into whatever role the team needed, especially as he improved his shooting.

Even from the first two years, it seemed this was a risk. And it did not help matters that Gordon got injured and missed the first two weeks of camp. Gordon has struggled to find his fit.

That is until after the All-Star Break last year.

Finally unleashed at power forward, fully healthy after a knock before the All-Star Break and with some stability and comfort, Gordon went on a tear to end the season. He began to look like the player everyone was promised when the Magic drafted him fourth overall.

In all, Gordon averaged 16.4 points per game and 6.2 rebounds per game for the Magic after the All-Star Break. He shot a 50.3 percent effective field goal percentage as he worked closer to the basket. Here was Gordon working exactly how he should have all along.

The Magic got him out in transition, letting him attack open space and get to the basket. He caught the ball in the mid-post against slower, less athletic defenders. He learned how to jab step his way to space and started hitting mid-range and single dribble pull-up jumpers with surprising efficiency.

Gordon was reacting on the court more than thinking and that went a long way. It seemed like he was finally home.

The cards now seem to align for Gordon to take another step. The 22-year-old forward has never had a healthy NBA summer — he broke his jaw after a strong Summer League before his second year — nor has he had the same coach in consecutive years. Gordon could finally take a major leap and establish himself as a core piece for the Magic.

Just in time too. It is a contract year.

The way he played to end last season suggests he could.