I'm becoming a huge fan of Aaron Gordon

[nickagneta]

I think its fantastically unfair to compare Aaron Gordon to the best defender of his generation and the best rebounder in the history of the NBA. Gordon's chances of coming anywhere near the player as Rodman is extremely thin, to say the least.

Its that type of comparison that got this whole draft class into trouble with unrealistic expectations. Simply put, Wiggins is not McGrady. Embiid is not Olajuwan, Parker is not Carmelo, Exum is not  Brandon Roy and Gordon is not Rodman. Even under best case scenarios these players becoming that good are about as remote as you get.

[JBcat]

Yup.  With our second 1st rounder, I wouldn't be mad.  But with our top pick, no thanks.  I want one of the big 4, or if we fall out of the top 4 perhaps Vonleh would be a decent consolation prize.  I think he could be a poor man's Chris Bosh.  Which might be good enough for the 5 in today's NBA.

So, Gordon pretty much seemed to cement his role player status to me tonight.

Tremendous hustle and effort, particularly on defense. Hit the boards like a mad man.   He won't likely ever see those kind of rebounding numbers in the NBA, but it was impressive none the less.

Total train wreck on offense though. He is just not a player you can run any offense through. Epitome of a role player, someone who is only useful on offense as a spot up shooter/transition player/garbage man. He'll be excellent in transition and as a garbage man, but can't shoot to save his life.

He won't but he needs a few more years in college to work on several things. Right now, he should not be taken in the top 10, IMO.

My best comparison, from what I've seen, is Dennis Rodman.

Maybe some similarities to Rodman.  Gordon can handle the ball much better than Rodman, but I doubt will ever be the rebounder Rodman was. 

I like the Kirlenko or Marion comparison better.

[Tr1boy]

Rodman comparison is ok as gordon can guard all positions , and has a high motor. Rodman was everywhere and his energy rarely dwindled

But rodmam also had 7'7 wingspan. Gordon only 7 or 7'1 and but has a better offensive game already

Celts I hope consider drafting gordon at 5.   He will not be avail past 8 or 9. No way

[Emmette Bryant]

I think its fantastically unfair to compare Aaron Gordon to the best defender of his generation and the best rebounder in the history of the NBA. Gordon's chances of coming anywhere near the player as Rodman is extremely thin, to say the least.

Sorry to threadcrap, but I'm going to have to disagree with this statement.  Dennis Rodman was not the greatest rebounder in the history of the NBA.  The all time leading rebounder in NBA history was Wilt Chamberlain, with 23,924 total rebounds.  Dennis Rodman has a total of 11,954 rebounds, which puts him 22nd on the list.

I would agree that Dennis Rodman was the greatest rebounding forward.  Again, sorry to butt in.

[Chief]

I think its fantastically unfair to compare Aaron Gordon to the best defender of his generation and the best rebounder in the history of the NBA. Gordon's chances of coming anywhere near the player as Rodman is extremely thin, to say the least.

Its that type of comparison that got this whole draft class into trouble with unrealistic expectations. Simply put, Wiggins is not McGrady. Embiid is not Olajuwan, Parker is not Carmelo, Exum is not  Brandon Roy and Gordon is not Rodman. Even under best case scenarios these players becoming that good are about as remote as you get.

People, including myself, are comparing their style of play, not how great of an NBA player they will be. 

[Eddie20]

The young Rodman was a much different player than the older Rodman. Young Rodman was a player that ran the floor, finished the break, played exceptional defense, and wasn't entirely allergic to scoring. Gordon reminds of this Rodman, albeit with worse defense, but better ballhandling skills.

Once Rodman went along further in his career he became a much better rebounder, but other aspects of his game suffered as a result of him looking to pad his rebounding numbers. He no longer played that tight perimeter defense and was more inclined to give plenty of space to the perimeter player so he could be in better position to rebound.

[nickagneta]

I think its fantastically unfair to compare Aaron Gordon to the best defender of his generation and the best rebounder in the history of the NBA. Gordon's chances of coming anywhere near the player as Rodman is extremely thin, to say the least.

Sorry to threadcrap, but I'm going to have to disagree with this statement.  Dennis Rodman was not the greatest rebounder in the history of the NBA.  The all time leading rebounder in NBA history was Wilt Chamberlain, with 23,924 total rebounds.  Dennis Rodman has a total of 11,954 rebounds, which puts him 22nd on the list.

I would agree that Dennis Rodman was the greatest rebounding forward.  Again, sorry to butt in.

Due to pace of game and general ability of outside shooters improving, comparing rebounding numbers such as totals per season, totals per career and rebounders per game in different generations isn't the best way to compare rebounders of different generations.

Rebounding percentage is a much fairer way tto compare players.

Rodman is the greatest rebounder because when he played he grabbed the highest percentage of available rebounds compared to any other player ever.

[nickagneta]

I think its fantastically unfair to compare Aaron Gordon to the best defender of his generation and the best rebounder in the history of the NBA. Gordon's chances of coming anywhere near the player as Rodman is extremely thin, to say the least.

Its that type of comparison that got this whole draft class into trouble with unrealistic expectations. Simply put, Wiggins is not McGrady. Embiid is not Olajuwan, Parker is not Carmelo, Exum is not  Brandon Roy and Gordon is not Rodman. Even under best case scenarios these players becoming that good are about as remote as you get.

People, including myself, are comparing their style of play, not how great of an NBA player they will be. 

Yeah but when you compare players that have similar types of games and you use as an example the best player to ever have that particular type of game people are going to think of that player being what the first player will become.

There's a ton of players that are defensive specialists that do a lot of nice things but have horrible shots and can't score.

If Gordon can ever learn to hit an outside shot he is more like James Posey than Dennis Rodman. I think comparing Gordon to players like Posey or Battier or Bowen is more realistic.

Its just a disservice to these players to compare them to the best ever and set unrealistic expectations. But that's just my opinion.

[footey]

I think its fantastically unfair to compare Aaron Gordon to the best defender of his generation and the best rebounder in the history of the NBA. Gordon's chances of coming anywhere near the player as Rodman is extremely thin, to say the least.

Its that type of comparison that got this whole draft class into trouble with unrealistic expectations. Simply put, Wiggins is not McGrady. Embiid is not Olajuwan, Parker is not Carmelo, Exum is not  Brandon Roy and Gordon is not Rodman. Even under best case scenarios these players becoming that good are about as remote as you get.

People, including myself, are comparing their style of play, not how great of an NBA player they will be. 

Yeah but when you compare players that have similar types of games and you use as an example the best player to ever have that particular type of game people are going to think of that player being what the first player will become.

There's a ton of players that are defensive specialists that do a lot of nice things but have horrible shots and can't score.

If Gordon can ever learn to hit an outside shot he is more like James Posey than Dennis Rodman. I think comparing Gordon to players like Posey or Battier or Bowen is more realistic.

Its just a disservice to these players to compare them to the best ever and set unrealistic expectations. But that's just my opinion.

I disagree with you, Nick.  Gordon's size, energy and style of play, as well as his weaknesses as a shooter, remind me much more of Rodman than of any of the guys you mention.  He looks nothing like any of them.  No one is suggesting that Gordon will ever be a great rebounder like Rodman.

[vjcsmoke]

I think its fantastically unfair to compare Aaron Gordon to the best defender of his generation and the best rebounder in the history of the NBA. Gordon's chances of coming anywhere near the player as Rodman is extremely thin, to say the least.

Its that type of comparison that got this whole draft class into trouble with unrealistic expectations. Simply put, Wiggins is not McGrady. Embiid is not Olajuwan, Parker is not Carmelo, Exum is not  Brandon Roy and Gordon is not Rodman. Even under best case scenarios these players becoming that good are about as remote as you get.

People, including myself, are comparing their style of play, not how great of an NBA player they will be. 

Yeah but when you compare players that have similar types of games and you use as an example the best player to ever have that particular type of game people are going to think of that player being what the first player will become.

There's a ton of players that are defensive specialists that do a lot of nice things but have horrible shots and can't score.

If Gordon can ever learn to hit an outside shot he is more like James Posey than Dennis Rodman. I think comparing Gordon to players like Posey or Battier or Bowen is more realistic.

Its just a disservice to these players to compare them to the best ever and set unrealistic expectations. But that's just my opinion.

And James Posey was a nice player and all, but why in the world would you take James Posey with a top 5 pick?

[celticmania]

When are people going to realize that players like Aaron Gordon don't work. Players with the size of a small forward but the perimiter skills of a power forward just don't work. On the other hand he is a good defender and team player so he has good role player potential. Just don't expect anything from him offensively. I wouldnt pick him in the top 10 let alone top 5. No way he gets picked in the top 5

[D.o.s.]

I think its fantastically unfair to compare Aaron Gordon to the best defender of his generation and the best rebounder in the history of the NBA. Gordon's chances of coming anywhere near the player as Rodman is extremely thin, to say the least.

Sorry to threadcrap, but I'm going to have to disagree with this statement.  Dennis Rodman was not the greatest rebounder in the history of the NBA.  The all time leading rebounder in NBA history was Wilt Chamberlain, with 23,924 total rebounds.  Dennis Rodman has a total of 11,954 rebounds, which puts him 22nd on the list.

I would agree that Dennis Rodman was the greatest rebounding forward.  Again, sorry to butt in.

Hahahha I came in to post this, too.

Rodman's the best rebounder I've ever seen, but I'm too young to have seen Wilt as he was happening.

[PhoSita]

If you are asking me, it is simple: Combo forward, Arizona, very athletic, similar size

For anyone who does not agree, let's remember Derrick Williams was the 2nd overall pick in the 2011 draft. There is a pattern of combo forwards not working in the NBA. Frankly, they scare me to death. Here are some I can think of:

Chris Singleton
 Derrick Williams
 Jan Vesely
 Marcus Morris
 Markieff Morris
Michael Beasley

To your examples:

Vesely is not nor has he ever been skilled at all on either side of the floor.  He was drafted entirely on physical attributes.  Unsurprisingly, he hasn't worked out.

The Morris twins, I think, have worked out pretty well considering the expectations of them when they were drafted.  Both look like borderline starters with useful abilities. 

Beasley and Williams are probably the basis of your strongest argument; both were highly talented college players taken near the top of the draft with high expectations.

The key difference there, I think, is that Beasley and Williams were offensively-oriented players without a position on defense.  Gordon is the converse.


In my view, combo forwards who can guard multiple positions but who have a less refined offensive game are much more likely to find a place in the league.  Combo forwards with no defensive position at the NBA level are much harder to keep on the floor. 

Gordon could come in and play significant minutes right away because he can play defense.  As long as he develops a reliable corner three jumpshot, he could get by offensively.


I agree with others who have said that Gordon is probably a role player in the NBA, although he has the potential to be an extremely valuable one.  Using our top pick, for which we have endured a season full of losses, on a player whose ceiling is "superior role player," would on some level be disappointing. 

At the same time, Gordon is the type of player that winning teams need, and I'd rather have a versatile defender and high level rebounder at the SF position than a complementary scorer like Jeff Green.

[Celtics4ever]

I was impressed with how many balls Gordon got off the rim.  He is a fantastic leaper but more important he is a quick leaper.   Quick leaping is more important than height of leaping on rebounds.  He has both.

[Eddie20]

I've been following Arizona team play this year. Kid is going to be an excellent nba player.  Putting aside that he does have some excellent skills, its his motor, iq and leaping ability that makes him a nice player.

Excellent passer and a team 1st player. Watching the clip above, definitely his leap is higher than most nba players today

Triboy, I wondered if you still felt the same way about Gordon or if you're glad he went before us in the draft?

This year your guy seems to be Kaminsky and although he'll provide instant reward, courtesy of him turing 22 next month, it's his limited upside that I have the most issue with.