The Magic don't have a clue how Gordon's going to turn out after one season, but they know they have a problem with offense and he's part of the problem. So is Payton, but he's got an upside similar to Rondo at his peak (He could surpass Rondo and fail to surpass Rondo - is that CYA disclaimer enough?). Oladipo is another below average shooter. I don't see how you can play all 3 of them and prosper as they amply demonstrated this year.
Gordon's not versatile around the rim - he's a put back dunker and transition scorer. He had no game around the basket coming in to the NBA or now. On defense, he's a tweener. and while pegged as a future DPOY here by some, he was 201st in defensive +/-.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2015_advanced.htmlI think the 16+28 pick combo is fair value for a guy who's a bad fit on ORL, hasn't proved anything as a rookie other than confirming that he's a bad shooter, and went too high at #4. Would I want him on the Cs? No. We need offense and a rim protector. He's neither and he's fairly priced at 16 + 28 and not some fabulous bargain. He can be decent somewhere else where he'd fit better.
Just for the record is the SBNation ORL homer assessment.
And then there's Aaron Gordon, who, through no fault of his own, had a quiet rookie season. Owing to injury, the fourth overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft made only 47 appearances, offering only fleeting glimpses into his potential.
We know he can defend, at least. Though by no means a perfect defender, Gordon's size, frame, athleticism, and willingness to engage on that end make him a plus even at age 19. I'm not certain he'll ever be able to defend speedier small forwards on a full-time basis, but he can cover certain threes for a handful of possessions each game, making him valuable in isolation or switching situations.
As with seemingly every other youngster on Orlando's roster, however, the real question with Gordon is his shooting and scoring. He's not a threat as a shooter off the catch, so stashing him in the corner as a spacer doesn't quite make sense. His iffy midrange shot and work-in-progress handles mean he's not yet equipped to handle hard closeouts. At this (admittedly early) juncture it's hard to tell precisely what role Gordon will play in an NBA offense. And while I understand the inclination to play him as a sort free safety defensively, I do think more clearly defining his offensive position would help certain of his skills develop more quickly.
I'd prefer to see Gordon as a power forward, hanging around the elbows as a facilitator and screener. But I can also see, if I squint hard enough, the Magic going an entirely different direction and having him play a perimeter-based, jack-of-all-trades role not unlike Andre Iguodala.
Given his age, skill set, and how infrequently he played as a rookie, it's really tough to assess Gordon. But it's fun to think of the possibilities.
Very generous description of his mid-range shot as iffy. Shot 18% from 10 feet out to the 3 point range.
http://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/2015/5/6/8557723/victor-oladipo-nba-stats-2015-orlando-magic-aaron-gordon-maurice-harkless
Topic: Would you trade the 16 and 28 for Aaron Gordon? (Read 19995 times)