Orlando Magic 2019 Season Review: What Went Wrong — Aaron Gordon’s star turn

It is hard to find things that went wrong in a season that saw so much success. Aaron Gordon took huge steps forward, but not the big step everyone thought.

There was actually very little to complain about when it comes to the Orlando Magic’s 2019 series. Finding things that “went wrong” is more an activity of form than an actual accounting of things that went wrong.

The season was a smashing success in almost every way.

In any way the team could judge the season it surpassed expectations. The Magic made the playoffs and ended that long losing stretch with a 42-win season. They galvanized around a defensive identity and almost every player took some step forward — even the key ones who struggled (more on that later in the week).

It is hard to find things that went wrong for the short- or long-term narrative.

But this is how we have decided to do our season recap, so we are going to nitpick and find things that did not go exactly to plan and things to keep an eye on for the future. This is more something that did not meet expectations, as outsized as they might be.

The Magic are clearly still a rebuilding team. They made the playoffs and pushed ahead well before their schedule. Jeff Weltman and his team are still piecing the group together and forging a path forward.

The way the team talked about themselves at exit interviews they celebrated what they accomplished this season, expressed frustration about how the playoffs finished and offered excitement for the future. As many would point out, the grouping of Aaron Gordon, Jonathan Isaac, Markelle Fultz and Mohamed Bamba has a lot of potential.

But that potential is hardly kinetic energy. Jonathan Isaac finished his second season and really just played his first full year in the league. Mohamed Bamba is still a raw and lanky big man who lost nearly half his season to a fracture in his leg. And the recently acquired Markelle Fultz is still recovering from thoracic outlet syndrome with no timetable for his return.

Even at the beginning of the season, it was clear this future was murky at best. The team needed a breakout star and everyone thought it would be the veteran of that bunch in Aaron Gordon who would provide it.

If there was one complaint that simmered throughout the season for this team it was that it was veteran players like Nikola Vucevic and Evan Fournier leading the way. It was the players who were part of the team’s failed past that broke through and not the players that were part of the future that led them.

This analysis has some merit to it. It is not completely unfair to say this.

Nikola Vucevic had his breakout season as an All-Star, but the playoffs showed the limitations of running the offense through him — especially with a roster that is still not fully formed.

The Magic were able to attack and catch teams by surprise in the regular season. But the Toronto Raptors were able to hone in on these weaknesses and expose them.

With Vucevic’s future in flux, there is a need to shift things at least somewhat. And in any case, for the Magic to take their next step forward they will need more.

That is where that young core comes in. They were not quite ready for the big stage. And the player we all thought would take that next step never really did. Or, at least, not in the way we thought.

Aaron Gordon seemed destined for stardom last year after averaging 17.6 points per game and breaking the 30-percent barrier on 3-pointers. Gordon had big scoring performances last year and, despite some bouts of forced isolation play, seemed like he was about to make a major breakthrough.

To make things clear, he did have a major breakthrough. But not in the way many expected.

Gordon had a fantastic season by any measure. He averaged 16.0 points per game on a 50.7 percent effective field goal percentage. He added 7.4 rebounds per game a career-high 3.7 assists per game.

His goal to start the season was to regain his defensive reputation and become a better two-way player. He accomplished that with the support of his teammates and their stellar defense. Steve Clifford put trust in Aaron Gordon to defend the best perimeter player almost every night and he led the team in minutes.

The only complaint was that Gordon did not have that breakthrough in scoring. The raw numbers did not match perhaps the strong play Gordon had throughout the season. He was vital to everything the Magic did.

Gordon had only one 30-point game this season and only six games with 25 or more points. He tallied just 24 games with 20 points or more. He was certainly more consistent as a scorer — just 10 games with fewer than 10 points. But he did not make good on his big scoring outbursts from last year.

The question will be where he goes next. And, of course, if the Magic lose Vucevic in free agency then more pressure and responsibility will fall on Gordon to deliver offensively.

To be sure, regardless of what happens there, Gordon’s game should continue to grow and expand. It is easy to forget he is only 23 years old. He made strides in a lot of areas of his game and that should only help him in his next phase.

Gordon stopped the heavy isolation basketball that characterized some of his big scoring binges. He was more careful with his shot selection and able to get others involved. He showed a lot more poise and patience on the ball. These are all good things for him and his development.

But there was no passing of the torch, so to speak this year. Gordon was not the team’s star, at least not yet.

That is only a mild disappointment. The season worked out well. The Magic made the playoffs and Gordon accepted and played his role perfectly.

The question becomes when the team has to ask Gordon to do more. And they will ask him to do more.

There is still the sense the team will have to pass off the baton at some point. Next year, the Magic will need to get more from Gordon and see him continue to grow.

Gordon had a fantastic season this year. There is no denying this. He did not take the steps forward everyone anticipated, but he made serious gains.

The question will be whether he can take his next step forward and whether he will be up to the challenges the Magic may face to maintain their spot next year.