Re-Drafting the 2014 NBA Draft

PF. Arizona. Aaron Gordon. 5. player. 118. <p><strong>Original pick: Dante Exum</strong></p> <p>As a 20-year-old in 2015-2016, Aaron Gordon was already a positive player. Throw in the fact that he has the pedigree and athleticism to earn a top-five selection originally and you have yourself a legitimate player in the NBA.</p> <p>Gordon’s chief value arrives on the defensive end, where he uses a lengthy 6-foot-9 frame to deter the opposition. In his “sophomore” campaign, Gordon made great strides defensively, and while he does not present traditional power forward bulk, his length and explosiveness as an athlete provide the groundwork to play power forward full-time in today’s NBA. To make things even more interesting, he can (at least in theory) act as a secondary rim protector, taking the pressure off a center that isn’t particularly adept in that area.</p> <p>Offensively, Gordon is a work in progress, but he made encouraging strides last season. He was able to post a 17.1 PER with a 54.1% true shooting, and if Gordon is able to make some improvements to his much-maligned jump shot, the sky is the limit on that end of the floor.</p> <p>Because of his extreme youth and overall athletic profile, Gordon is a tantalizing prospect, and it will be interesting to see how he progresses outside of the shadow of Scott Skiles.</p>