Orlando Magic Daily
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2019 Orlando Magic Player Outlook: Aaron Gordon

By Philip Rossman-Reich

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 3: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball during the game against the New York Knicks on December 3, 2017 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 3: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball during the game against the New York Knicks on December 3, 2017 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Aaron Gordon, Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks
ORLANDO, FL – JANUARY 20: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic goes up for a lay up against the Milwaukee Bucks on January 20, 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) /

What To Look For

Aaron Gordon had never had a fully healthy summer before last year. His team never really had a clear direction for him before last year. The team was still trying to figure out what to make of Gordon and where his skills and athleticism best fit in the NBA.

His broken jaw in the summer of 2015 stunted a growth similar to what the Magic saw throughout the last season. He struggled to find his rhythm as he recovered from that surgery. Then the Magic tried to move him full-time to the perimeter playing against speedier small forwards. That had its moments but was largely unsuccessful.

When Orlando moved him back to power forward full time, he thrived, finishing the 2017 season strongly. That all led back to his 2018 season and his breakthrough. The Magic put him in a better position to succeed.

Gordon was as much a part of that work as the position though. He greatly improved his 3-point shot and played with a whole lot more confidence. He looked willing to attack off the dribble and comfortable even taking pull-up 3-pointers. There was not a lot to dislike. Especially when the team added in his athleticism in the open court and a much more up-tempo, free-flowing style.

Gordon even tried his hand at attacking in the half court. That had much more limited success — 0.82 points per possession on 1.7 isolation plays per game last year with a 39.9 percent effective field goal percentage — but it was a sign of just how expansive Gordon’s game could become.

The trick this year will be to see just how much more it can grow. Whether Gordon can become a bit more efficient attacking off the dribble and learn when and how to pick his spots as a scorer.

The general expectation though is for Gordon to become the team’s leading scorer. He seems ready to take on that mantle. And if he can improve by the leaps and bounds he improved by in one summer, the team should be excited to see what he can do with another. Especially after getting a taste of what it was like last year.

The Magic may not have an All-Star next year. Record and team performance have a lot to do with that. But Gordon should put up All-Star numbers for the team if they want to have any measure of success.