2019 Orlando Magic Player Outlook: Aaron Gordon

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Aaron Gordon, Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks

MILWAUKEE, WI – JANUARY 10: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic drives to the basket against John Henson #31 of the Milwaukee Bucks during a game at the Bradley Center on January 10, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

Aaron Gordon had a breakout season seemingly putting together his potential into production. Now the Orlando Magic hope he can build into their star.

The biggest intrigue for the Orlando Magic the entire summer was a mixture of who the Magic would draft this loaded draft class and what the Magic would do with Aaron Gordon.

These were two pillars for the team’s future. Important pieces that Orlando would put in place this summer. Almost nothing else mattered for the team’s offseason maneuvering. The Magic were not going to invest a lot of long-term money. The idea was to lay the foundations for the team’s future growth.

Mohamed Bamba (the sixth overall pick) was one piece to that puzzle. The other was signing Gordon to that four-year, $76 million deal. It was a statement and a commitment from the team. Even if the deal ended up being extremely team friendly — a front-loaded contract that becomes more and more intriguing as the team matures in the next few years.

With Gordon’s future secure and his place at the center of the Magic organization secured for the next few years at least, the question now becomes what Gordon can become as a player. The question is whether Gordon can make that investment worth it.

Last year in his contract year, Gordon made the Magic take notice. He made the league take notice. His career-high of 17.7 points per game, 33.6 percent shooting from beyond the arc and 7.9 rebounds per game.

This was much more than just Gordon seeing an increase in playing time. He took much more currency and agency over his role on the team. He finally made the improvements that come with a summer of work and took a giant leap in his game.

Gordon came out of the gates blaring, averaging 18.5 points per game and 8.1 rebounds per game with 40.1 percent shooting from beyond the arc in his first 25 games. Those were near All-Star-level numbers if only the Magic could keep on winning.

It was a sign of Gordon’s potential. The chance for him to take that gargantuan leap into stardom the Magic are so desperate for.

But it was not without its growing pains. As good as Gordon was to start the season, he struggled to finish the year. And injuries kept nagging him throughout the entire season — from a concussion to a calf injury to a hip injury.

Gordon finished the final 19 games averaging 16.0 points per game and 6.9 rebounds per game while shooting 31.6 percent from beyond the arc. Gordon kept up the scoring and lost the efficiency as he tried desperately to be the star he knows he can be.

There were growing pains for sure. The question now is just how Gordon will grow from here.