NBA Season Preview 2018-19: Every team’s biggest question

Orlando Magic: How do they juggle Aaron Gordon and Jonathan Isaac in the frontcourt, and can both be long-term fixtures?

Frustrating as it was to see Frank Vogel play Aaron Gordon on the wing two seasons ago, Gordon may find himself there again, this time in a different context. The folly in sliding Gordon to small forward in 2017 wasn’t necessarily in mishandling his skills (though that problem certainly existed) it was the logic of a coach playing his best – or at least most promising – player out of position to accommodate for lesser players who could offer no short- or long-term hope for the franchise. Bismack Biyombo and Serge Ibaka were not so great as to merit signings and trades that would displace Gordon and impact his development, nor were they the kinds of players that could complement Gordon’s skills or make him better.

The Magic are under a different set of circumstances now, with three young frontcourt players that could all play major roles in the team’s future. Gordon will be 23 and on the heels of a breakout year while Jonathan Isaac, who missed most of last year with an ankle injury, is healthy and ready to contribute. Mo Bamba has All-Star upside as a rim protector that can act as a lob threat and space the floor. Melvin Frazier and Wes Iwundu, while not as central to the franchise’s future, are intriguing defensive prospects that fit John Hammond’s appetite for long, athletic players. All will warrant significant playing time next season, and sooner or later, Orlando must find out how the three of them work with one another. If the Magic luck into a best-case scenario, they’ll have a dynamic and positionless defense with multiple scoring threats on offense. Worst case: they’re stuck with a roster whose pieces don’t quite fit together.

Unless Gordon or Isaac develops into a consistent shooting threat, it’s unclear whether the two can coexist in the long term. Bamba projects as a passable shooter, which would alleviate some shooting concerns around the rest of the roster, but in today’s perimeter-oriented game, featuring multiple non-shooters in over long stretches creates obstacles. Supersizing the frontcourt also means one of Gordon or Isaac will primarily guard wings, something both are capable of doing but not naturally inclined to do.

At some point, Orlando, who likely has the worst point guard rotation in the NBA, will need to add a playmaker. For now, they’ll rely on the defensive ability of a group of mostly raw talents, a venture bound to produce more losses than wins. The Magic can stand to take them right now, while the stakes are still low.