2017-18 Orlando Magic Player Evaluations: Aaron Gordon

Aaron Gordon was drafted as a bundle of potential that had not yet formed. In the course of this season, he started to break out and show a true form.

Aaron Gordon has always been a promise.

Coming out of the Arizona Wildcats program, he was a bundle of potential. An athletic freak who just overpowered weaker competition by his physicality. Someone who had an unnatural defensive understanding. The outline of a future NBA player was there. It was just all in its infancy.

The Orlando Magic bet on that long-term development when they made him the fourth overall pick int he 2014 NBA Draft. Having missed the opportunity to draft on the supposed surefire stars in the top three of that draft, Orlando seemed willing to bet on athleticism and versatility as the order of the day.

At some point, a player has to be more than their potential. Former general manager Rob Hennigan’s line that Aaron Gordon was merely a forward could only carry so far. At some point, there needed to be some definition to his game.

And Gordon’s first three years provided zero clarity. His rookie season was lost virtually entirely due to injury. He was nothing more than a bouncy rookie off the bench with a few highlight plays. An offseason jaw injury stunted his growth in his second year, relegating him again to nothing more than energy plays.

His third year saw him moved to the perimeter, which exposed perhaps his biggest weakness — his poor shooting. Gordon was never in a position to succeed.

Then came this year. Playing in a more modern offense that emphasized speed and floor spacing — as best as this team could, at least — Gordon thrived. Then the last piece came in.

Gordon did not make a star leap in his 2018 season. But for the first time, everyone could see the outlines of a franchise player. He was the sign of hope for the team.

He shot out of the gates with a strong start to the season. It slowed some — injuries again played a role — but he was undoubtedly the Magic’s best player all year. Gordon finished the year averaging a team-high 17.6 points per game and shooting a career-best 33.6 percent from beyond the arc.

Gordon had to adjust to being the top guy on the scouting report. He had to adjust to carrying a good chunk of the offensive load and learning the responsibilities that come with that role. But Gordon is confident and just 22 years old. Whatever mistakes or frustrations he had this year surely were growing pains.

And if he could make this big a leap after one healthy summer, the Magic have to be excited about what might come with the next summer.

The Good and the Bad

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 4/18/2018.

No one was really sure what to expect from Aaron Gordon this year. Everyone knew it was a contract year and the Magic had to make a decision about him. At some point, his potential had to pay off with production. And it had to be this year.

Gordon made sure to announce himself as something more than a dunking athlete through the first wave of games, quickly establishing himself as the best player on the team. Or at least the one with the brightest future.

His scoring average remained solid all year, but it was the way he scored that made its mark throughout the year. Gordon was not merely getting out in transition and scoring on dunks. Gordon’s game completely expanded.

He was taking more 3-pointers than ever before — a career-high 5.9 per game. He was more comfortable shooting outside the arc and his efficiency from there rose with it. That 33.6 percent shooting is nothing to write home about, but it was still Gordon’s career high. And he certainly can still improve considering the leaps he has already made there.

Gordon also worked more off the dribble than ever before. His whole shot profile just completely changed. Perhaps too much at times.

No one probably foresaw Gordon becoming such a dynamic scoring threat. He posted four games with 30 points or more and two with 40 points or more. That added 3-point shot helped grow his game in that regard.

Coach Frank Vogel often said in those games that Aaron Gordon’s scoring came largely within the “flow of the offense.” Indeed, it looked like Gordon was getting ball reversals and attacking quickly.

Where Gordon got himself in trouble throughout the year was when he slowed things down and tried to attack set defenses. Or when he tried to dribble too much.

Orlando Magic

Gordon got the star bug. He certainly was scoring like it. And too often he tried to play like how he might think a star should play rather than how he plays best in the end. Too often, Gordon was trying to force his shot, holding the ball too long as he tried to break down his man.

Gordon is not quite the playmaker to isolate quite yet. And he will have to improve as the ball handler in pick and rolls and passing off drives. There were still hints he could take these leaps. But, for now, defenses were able to sucker him into isolating and trying to probe the defense. This often led to a contested mid-range shot.

That might explain why Gordon’s field goal percentage dipped so much. In his first 25 games, Gordon averaged 18.5 points per game while shooting 49.2 percent from the floor and 40.1 percent from beyond the arc. In his final 32 games, Gordon averaged 17.1 points per game while shooting 39.7 percent from the floor and 29.0 percent from beyond the arc.

Gordon can clearly put up the raw numbers. But efficiency is the next trick he will have to learn. That is always a difficult thing for budding stars.

Best Game of 2018

Nov. 29 vs. Oklahoma City: 40 points, 13/23 FGs, 6/12 3FGs, 15 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals

As the Orlando Magic cruised to a lead over the Oklahoma City Thunder, the atmosphere in the Amway Center was a bit uneasy. The Magic had seen this script before. Russell Westbrook was coming to put an onslaught on the Magic’s 20-point lead as he had the previous two seasons. That is what Westbrook does.

But that rush never came. Or, better, it was halted. At this point of the season, the Magic had their own weapon.

Aaron Gordon was going to make his stand, helping the Magic snap a nine-game losing streak in the process.

From the start of the game, Gordon was in the zone. He was draining 3-pointers and just scoring from everywhere. The Magic were rolling and their young star was the one leading the charge.

In the second half, knowing that potential onslaught was coming from the Thunder, the Magic kept Gordon in the game and let him ride. They let him take control and take the team to this needed victory. And Gordon just continued to step up.

There were a few times throughout the season when it seemed the Magic saw exactly what Gordon could be at his apex.

He could be someone who changed the game defensively with his athleticism. Or someone who could drain 3-pointers off the dribble or off reversals. And someone who could attack in transition and finish at the rim. This was Gordon at his absolute best.

The one that had everyone believing him at the beginning of the season. And these scoring outbursts were not isolated. He had more than a few. But none felt bigger than this one at the time.

2019 Outlook

There is no getting around it: This is the summer of Aaron Gordon.

The Orlando Magic’s entire summer revolves around what the team decides to do with Gordon. Quite literally. His cap hold will eat up all their available cap space and his new contract will eat up what little remains.

Gordon provocatively said his ideal summer would be a max contract from the Magic after the season ended. That is the kind of confidence Gordon has himself. In all likelihood, he will not get that max contract. Even from someone else. Too few teams have the money and there are still legitimate questions about his game.

But, at this point, it is safe to say the Magic are going to match whatever offer Gordon gets. It will likely cost the team north of $20 million per year. And that is the price the Magic are going to be willing to pay.

Gordon showed tremendous growth this season. At 22 years old, there still seems like a lot more he can grow into too. This does not feel like a player who has hit his ceiling, rather one who is still finding his way.

Undoubtedly, Gordon cannot rest on his laurels. He still has a lot to work on.

Too often, Gordon drove into traffic and tried to dominate the ball. That is not what he is best at. Maybe that is a signal he is not the team’s star. But he did play this role enough and succeeded enough to pique some interest. Maybe he can develop it.

The same goes for his passing. He had a few games where he was perhaps being a bit rebellious and focused on his passing over his shooting and dialed up his assists to six or seven. That showed an ability no one previously thought he had.

The important thing for Gordon heading into the 2019 season is to continue to grow his game overall. He has to improve his 3-point shooting and his understanding of shot selection. He has to play less with his new toys and skills and focus more on what he is already good at, sprinkling in the new skills as he gains confidence.

The one thing that does seem clear is Gordon will be an important part of the Magic. If he returns, he will be the team’s face of the franchise along with the new pick.

Final Grade

It is hard not to come away for Aaron Gordon’s season and not be impressed in some way. He took a major leap in his game, becoming a reliable scorer and the team’s best overall player. This became Aaron Gordon’s team, for better or for worse. And as the Orlando Magic transition away, Aaron Gordon seems like the one Rob Hennigan player that remains a keeper.

His shooting continues to improve and he is young enough to believe his trajectory will continue trending upward. If the Magic know him well enough that money will not change his work ethic, the investment they will make in him this summer will be well worth it.

Gordon’s 3-point shot continues to be the main focus. He improved dramatically this year but also tailed off. It is not a consistent weapon yet. But good enough to take his game to another level.

His off-the-dribble drives are still not efficient at all. Gordon will either have to develop that skill or feature that less next year. This was part of his growing pains. He tried to be the star in a lot of ways. And that is not his game.

Really, Orlando could benefit by putting him in a more motion offense. That is what made him so successful at the beginning of the season. With the team draining 3-pointers and creating space, he was able to cut to the basket and get open 3-pointers. That unleashed his game and made him a superstar scoring threat. Gordon may need the rest of the roster to improve to help him unlock what is left of him.

That offensive sharing also could help him get back to playing defense at a high level. With his increased offensive load, his defense definitely took a step back this year.

Gordon still has a lot of flaws in his game. He still has a lot of growing to do. But this season was a strong one overall for Gordon. One that showed exactly what he could do.

Next: 2017-18 Orlando Magic Player Evaluations: Jonathon Simmons

That bundle of potential finally started to take form.