The Case for Aaron Gordon
By Mike Garcia
What can he contribute now?
His impact would be most felt by his energy, athleticism, and defensive ability. Within half-court sets, he would be expected to work off-the-ball. Unlike a lot of NBA players, his energy level does not wane when he isn’t receiving offensive touches. That kind of spark at the forward position is very rare. While he is a bit light at 220lbs., he’s not afraid to bang in the paint in the post or explode up in traffic for a finisher. He’s too smart of a basketball player to make poor turnovers on the offensive end while being a defensive liability. That isn’t Aaron Gordon’s game. He may even surprise people by becoming an athletic stretch-4, willing to take the 3-point shot as well as attack the paint slashing to the hoop.