How does Orlando Magic's Aaron Gordon project in the NBA?

How does Orlando Magic’s Aaron Gordon project in the NBA?

Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Aaron Gordon (Arizona) poses for a photo with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number four overall pick to the Orlando Magic in the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

In what came as a surprise to many, the Orlando Magic passed on Australian point guard Dante Exum and selected Arizona Wildcats’ forward Aaron Gordon with the fourth-overall pick in the first round of the NBA Draft.

"The challenge is figuring out how much of the responsibility for that lies with Gordon and how much with Sean Miller’s system, which encourages players to stay at home rather than gambling for steals and blocks. Gordon’s steal rate was off the charts when he played in a full-court press for the USA team in the U-19 World Championship last summer, but his rates were disappointing in the NBA Summer League as well. So we’ll know much more after a season in the NBA. But at this point, comparisons to Kirilenko and Marion are certainly optimistic, without even factoring in their superiority as free throw shooters."

Gordon’s lack of shooting ability, especially at the free throw line is rather alarming. Of course, his pure athletic ability is what made him such a high pick and the Magic are obviously counting on him to make huge strides in his first few NBA seasons.

Gordon measured in at 6’8.75″ and 220 lbs. with a wingspan of 6’11.75″ at the NBA’s Scouting Combine. He averaged 12.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game while shooting 49.5% from the field, 35.6% from beyond the arc and 42.2% from the free throw line for the Wildcats last season. Jonathan Givony of Draft Express ranked Gordon as the ninth-best prospect in the daft.

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