[high floorParticipant]

I’m looking at Orlando’s projected starting frontcourt of Vucevic and Harris. Although I really like what they bring offensively, opposing Eastern Conference duo’s like Bosh/Whiteside, Millsap/Horford, Mozgov/Love, and Noah/Gasol among others will routinely hit season highs against them in just 30 minutes of action. Even with the help of a new defensive minded coach in Scott Skiles. The problem is that they have just average or below average lateral quickness & defensive instincts to protect the paint. Very little shot blocking, man-to-man or help-side, as well. Enter Aaron Gordon.

I don’t think Skiles can deny this guy an opportunity. Gordon accompanies his elite athleticism with a ridiculous motor, allowing him to be super disruptive on the defensive end. He’s also very disciplined, and is only 20 frickin’ years old. Anyone watch his first preseason game against the HEAT this week? He looked incredible on defense in this contest. There isn’t a scenario I can envision to where he doesn’t become a force on that end of the floor. And I haven’t even talked about offense yet.

I’ve been watching the NBA for 20 years, and I know as well as anyone that you cannot definitively draw conclusions from Summer League. But, if you’re the Front Office and Coach Skiles you saw EXACTLY what you wanted to see with AG this summer. Dude was nasty (21.7pts, 11.7rebs, 2.7assts, 1.7blks, 52% fg) versus 2014 summer league averages (7.8pts, 5.0rebs, 1.1blks, 35% fg). And he did precisely what I didn’t think he could do, look like a SF in the mold of a young Shawn Marion or Gerald Wallace. 

His defensive abilites will get him minutes, and minutes will allow him to develop the rest of his game even as a 5th option this year. I’m thinking in 25mpg he could average ball-park 11pts, 6.5rebs, 2assists, 1stl, 1blk, 48% fg. Great numbers for a 20 year old still figuring things out in the league

 

 

 

 

 

[EspressoParticipant]

 I remember his senior year he said he compares himself with Pippen!? Does anyone remember? It’s all people kept talking about and his stock took a major hit, I myself didnt think it was a good a thing he decided to compare himself to a perimeter player, he def looked like a Shawn Marion type of hybrid in Summer League and looks to have made leaps of progress with his overall perimeter game.

[EspressoParticipant]

 I remember his senior year he said he compares himself with Pippen!? Does anyone remember? It’s all people kept talking about and his stock took a major hit, I myself didnt think it was a good a thing he decided to compare himself to a perimeter player, he def looked like a Shawn Marion type of hybrid in Summer League and looks to have made leaps of progress with his overall perimeter game.

[IlladelphParticipant]

 I don’t think Gordon’s summer league stats mean much.  Summer league is populated with second stringers and rookies who don’t play any meaningful defense.

Based on last year’s stats, I don’t think Gordon is going to blow up this year.  His PER was 11.4 which is not great for a #4 overall pick.  He shot 27% from deep, and eFG% was 48%.  Also his VORP was -0.2.  

I do think he will improve because he is only 20 and still has upside.  But I don’t think it’s reasonable to conclude that he will blow up this year because he stuffed his stat sheet in summer league.  He will probably continue to improve this year, and maybe by year 3 or 4 he will be a starter and have figured out his game.  

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Sometimes stats don’t tell the whole story. Watching him play during summer league you would notice one main difference from last year. He is creating his own shots from the perimeter and scoring at a high rate even acting as the primary ball handler in the halfcourt. Last year it seemed as if all his points were assisted. In SL he was hitting contested stepbacks, fadeaways, runners and everything.

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Sometimes stats don’t tell the whole story. Watching him play during summer league you would notice one main difference from last year. He is creating his own shots from the perimeter and scoring at a high rate even acting as the primary ball handler in the halfcourt. Last year it seemed as if all his points were assisted. In SL he was hitting contested stepbacks, fadeaways, runners and everything.

[IlladelphParticipant]

 I don’t think Gordon’s summer league stats mean much.  Summer league is populated with second stringers and rookies who don’t play any meaningful defense.

Based on last year’s stats, I don’t think Gordon is going to blow up this year.  His PER was 11.4 which is not great for a #4 overall pick.  He shot 27% from deep, and eFG% was 48%.  Also his VORP was -0.2.  

I do think he will improve because he is only 20 and still has upside.  But I don’t think it’s reasonable to conclude that he will blow up this year because he stuffed his stat sheet in summer league.  He will probably continue to improve this year, and maybe by year 3 or 4 he will be a starter and have figured out his game.  

[ExumInfernoParticipant]

 Not crazy.  A Gordon will be great, in his role.  Harris is the scorer at small forward, Vucevic is the scorer and rebounder at center, and at power forward Gordon will be doing all the defending and shotblocking that is needed to balance the team.  His minutes should double, to around 34.

Frye can’t give them anything, except some specialist outside shooting minutes, so Gordon will get a lot of his playing time.

With Payton and Oladipo in the backcourt, and Gordon up front, the Magic will be able to pressure the ball and there will be steals.

With minutes, he will have some amazing games, and why would they draft him so high if they were not going to give him minutes.  Plus, he does everything that the other players in the paint do not for them.  There should be lots of Payton to Gordon alley-oops.

 

 

 

 

 

[ExumInfernoParticipant]

 Not crazy.  A Gordon will be great, in his role.  Harris is the scorer at small forward, Vucevic is the scorer and rebounder at center, and at power forward Gordon will be doing all the defending and shotblocking that is needed to balance the team.  His minutes should double, to around 34.

Frye can’t give them anything, except some specialist outside shooting minutes, so Gordon will get a lot of his playing time.

With Payton and Oladipo in the backcourt, and Gordon up front, the Magic will be able to pressure the ball and there will be steals.

With minutes, he will have some amazing games, and why would they draft him so high if they were not going to give him minutes.  Plus, he does everything that the other players in the paint do not for them.  There should be lots of Payton to Gordon alley-oops.

 

 

 

 

 

[Adidas30Participant]

 Like Gordon’s Motor, Athleticism and Size.  He still has a ways to go as far as feel for the game and skill level and while it may take some time for him to develop in those areas and being that he is so young I think where going to get mix bag from him next couple years highs and lows I think we won’t really know what he is until his 4th or 5th year in the league. With that being said he will have plenty of chances to prove himself and play thru his mistakes.

[Adidas30Participant]

 Like Gordon’s Motor, Athleticism and Size.  He still has a ways to go as far as feel for the game and skill level and while it may take some time for him to develop in those areas and being that he is so young I think where going to get mix bag from him next couple years highs and lows I think we won’t really know what he is until his 4th or 5th year in the league. With that being said he will have plenty of chances to prove himself and play thru his mistakes.

[SmooveKRYPTParticipant]

I think year 3 will be his true "breakout" but I am expecting a lot of improvement in his overall impact this year. He missed a lot of time last year with the foot injury, so some of the first half this year will still be an adjustment period as far as being in the right place when playing off the ball both defensively and offensively as well as consistency. However, he is in a great situation to showcase his skillset…he’s one of those guys who gets himself going off highlight plays and having a team with Oladipo, Hezonja, and Payton there will be plenty of those. For now he’s going to make his money off backdoor lobs, putbacks, some spot up in the corners, and making defensive plays that turn into easy transition buckets. Long-term I definitely see him having an impact similar to what Crash was for the Bobcats & what Matrix was for the Suns. Future is bright in Orlando

 

[SmooveKRYPTParticipant]

I think year 3 will be his true "breakout" but I am expecting a lot of improvement in his overall impact this year. He missed a lot of time last year with the foot injury, so some of the first half this year will still be an adjustment period as far as being in the right place when playing off the ball both defensively and offensively as well as consistency. However, he is in a great situation to showcase his skillset…he’s one of those guys who gets himself going off highlight plays and having a team with Oladipo, Hezonja, and Payton there will be plenty of those. For now he’s going to make his money off backdoor lobs, putbacks, some spot up in the corners, and making defensive plays that turn into easy transition buckets. Long-term I definitely see him having an impact similar to what Crash was for the Bobcats & what Matrix was for the Suns. Future is bright in Orlando

 

[PulseGlazerParticipant]

 Very simply, if he’s playing the season at 20, he probably won’t break out.  Only Anthony Davis-like superstar talents tend to break out at that age. Root for progress, and in another year or two you may have a star.

[PulseGlazerParticipant]

 Very simply, if he’s playing the season at 20, he probably won’t break out.  Only Anthony Davis-like superstar talents tend to break out at that age. Root for progress, and in another year or two you may have a star.

[Author]

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