Aaron Gordon

basketballRob · Post #1 » by **basketballRob** » Sun Jul 27, 2014 5:40 pm

Just wondering if their are any Arizona fans that would give their thoughts on Gordon. Many of the Magic fans were upset we didn't take Exum and it looks like it might take Gordon a little while to become an every day player.

Gorilla Warfare · Post #2 » by **Gorilla Warfare** » Sun Jul 27, 2014 6:22 pm

I think he could be a Blake Griffin lite, not just because he kinda looks like him...with his athleticism he will always have a place in the league, and will have some great highlights throughout his career.

basketballRob · Post #3 » by **basketballRob** » Sun Jul 27, 2014 6:34 pm

I hope so but he'll have to get stronger to bang with the PF's. Right now he's primarily a SF. I do like his ball handling, playmaking abilities, and his on the ball defense. I think his defense might be his niche. He guarded 1,2, and 3's in SL and no one could get past him.

PhxSuns1 · Post #4 » by **PhxSuns1** » Sun Jul 27, 2014 6:38 pm

He blows. You are going to hate him. If you were going to draft a tweener forward, you should have just traded back for TJ Warren.

EDIT: LOL jk. I think he is going to be a nice player. Athletic and has some guard skills. I think he could play both forward positions well, and he should be praised for that, not criticized for being a "tweener". A player like Derrick Williams is a tweener because he plays neither position particularly well. I think Gordon can play BOTH positions well. He's going to be a great addition to your young talented core.

NapoleonII · Post #5 » by **NapoleonII** » Sun Jul 27, 2014 7:11 pm

Always hated the term "tweener", as if it's a size/position problem rather than a skills/ability problem with players.

Some of the greatest players were tweeners, but more imporantly they were just excellent/skilled determined basketball players.

Lebron
Pippin
Magic
G. Hill
Mcgrady
Barkeley to some extent.

The tweeners that flunked out were just terrible, terrible players with no feel to the game who didn't improve their skills....Marvin Williams, Josh Smith, Tyrus Thomas. Derrick Williams will soon join this group.

You have guys who have been talented, but didn't work hard enough.....Boris Diaw, Tim Thomas, Lamar Odom.

Basically, if you can play, you can play. Being between positions isn't going to determine a whole lot. Develop a damned jumper, learn how to drive and finish, study defense, practice defense, rebound HARD, make the right basketball play.

Post #6 » by **bwgood77** » Sun Jul 27, 2014 7:12 pm

basketballRob wrote:Just wondering if their are any Arizona fans that would give their thoughts on Gordon. Many of the Magic fans were upset we didn't take Exum and it looks like it might take Gordon a little while to become an every day player.

He is a good player but his FT shooting concerns me, and pretty much most of his outside shooting. But he will always make an impact on the game. He is a smart passer, very good defender, rebounder, dunker, etc. If he plays with Frye that will help spread the floor for him to get inside for alley oops. But if he isn't hitting his shots he's not the type of player that will give up on defense...he will likely then try and make up for it with defense or rebounding. You guys should have a good defensive team.

Jdiddy701 · Post #7 » by **Jdiddy701** » Sun Jul 27, 2014 9:06 pm

I never watched him in college but in the summer league he reminded me of Hakim Warrick.

ImNotMcDiSwear · Post #8 » by **ImNotMcDiSwear** » Sun Jul 27, 2014 9:47 pm

I was surprised when the Magic took him, because it doesn't seem he'll ever be a very steady offensive weapon. Considering the kind of potential that was available in the draft, it didn't seem to make sense. But I think they were enamored with Payton, which is why they passed on Exum, and they preferred Gordon's work ethic, athleticism, and defense to Randle and Vonleh. Vonleh may have been the best pick there, but who can say at this point.

... Then the 6ers basically extorted them. Noting their interest, they grabbed Payton and asked who could make the best offer. The Magic ended up giving up a future pick in the deal. That front office really get jobbed. But hey, I like Payton, and if Gordon becomes Shawn Marion, they did well.

Zelaznyrules · Post #9 » by **Zelaznyrules** » Sun Jul 27, 2014 11:56 pm

I don't think he ever plays up to his draft slot. If he'd come in from a small school and was drafted in the second round, he'd stick around for a decade plus as a valuable energy guy off the bench. But I don't know what will happen under the burden of high expectations. I guess there's always a chance he'll develop a nice shot from midrange and beyond but it's unlikely. And his footwork inside will keep him from ever making the switch to power forward IMO.

UofAsuns · Post #10 » by **UofAsuns** » Mon Jul 28, 2014 12:15 am

I'm obviously a bit biased on Gordon, but I think he has a lot of potential. I think his game translates to the NBA a bit more than it does to college. He is the type of player that you probably will not runs plays for but will still get his touches, similar to a Shawn Marion. He will play really well off the ball and play well in transition. I think he can be an elite defender in a couple of years. He is also incredibly coachable and very much a team player. His shooting concerns me. However, he would not be the first guy to come into the NBA with a streaky shot and develop it over the course of a few years. All Amare Stoudemire knew how to do when he came into the league was dunk and he ended up having a great knock down midrange shot. Exum's ceiling might be a bit higher, but I would put money down that Gordon will have a great career if he is able to play into his style.

Revived · Post #11 » by **Revived** » Mon Jul 28, 2014 1:01 am

If he puts in the work, he will be great. He has all the physical tools.

Its all on him to learn to shoot, extend his range, work on some post moves and such.

basketballRob · Post #12 » by **basketballRob** » Mon Jul 28, 2014 7:36 am

cosmofizzo wrote:I was surprised when the Magic took him, because it doesn't seem he'll ever be a very steady offensive weapon. Considering the kind of potential that was available in the draft, it didn't seem to make sense. But I think they were enamored with Payton, which is why they passed on Exum, and they preferred Gordon's work ethic, athleticism, and defense to Randle and Vonleh. Vonleh may have been the best pick there, but who can say at this point.

... Then the 6ers basically extorted them. Noting their interest, they grabbed Payton and asked who could make the best offer. The Magic ended up giving up a future pick in the deal. That front office really get jobbed. But hey, I like Payton, and if Gordon becomes Shawn Marion, they did well.

From hearing the GM's comments, they thought he was the best player that fit with our team not necessarily the best player. As a team player how can you not like Gordon? He hustles on both ends, passes the ball, and has great character and work ethic.

BobbieL · Post #13 » by **BobbieL** » Mon Jul 28, 2014 1:46 pm

basketballRob wrote:Just wondering if their are any Arizona fans that would give their thoughts on Gordon. Many of the Magic fans were upset we didn't take Exum and it looks like it might take Gordon a little while to become an every day player.

I see Shawn Marion more than Blake Griffin. Griffin is much bigger with more offensive game

Marion had a suspect shot - still does but could defend that 2 through 4 positions; rebounder, hustler, finisher, can jump out of the gym. I see a lot of those same traits with Gordon. Gordon has a helluva lot of work to do on his shot. But the other stuff, defense, hustling, running, jumping - he will be fine

As a U of A alum, he was the guy I wanted the Suns to get as I think he has a chance to be very good

Good pick by Orlando

phrazbit · Post #14 » by **phrazbit** » Tue Jul 29, 2014 9:28 pm

Jdiddy701 wrote:I never watched him in college but in the summer league he reminded me of Hakim Warrick.

Other than both can throw down big dunks there is zero resemblance. He plays much more physical.

I think his best comparison would be Shawn Marion. He is a stronger than Marion, he has much better ball handling skills than Marion, but his shooting is not where Marion's was when Shawn entered the league. He has a never ending motor, great at reading the ball off the glass and he can defend 4 positions. At worst he will be a defensive stalwart who can rebound and throw down putbacks.

The other comparison would be a poor man's Rodman. Similar build, similar strengths and weaknesses, only Gordon's strengths are not as strong and his weaknesses are not as bad.

PhxSunsFan1234 · Post #15 » by **PhxSunsFan1234** » Tue Jul 29, 2014 11:41 pm

You'd think teams would learn from Derrick Williams situation. Same player. Tweener. Athletic. Sucks in the NBA.

nevetsov · Post #16 » by **nevetsov** » Wed Jul 30, 2014 12:27 am

I haven't seen him that much but he kinda reminds me of Kenyon Martin, at least physically. Lean, athletic PF whose strength is transition and can hit the midrange jumper, while being a pretty good defender too.

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NaturalBuns · Post #17 » by **NaturalBuns** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 1:04 am

I'm pretty high on him he will be pretty good.
I look at him as a raw player with lots of potential

Zelaznyrules · Post #18 » by **Zelaznyrules** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 6:29 am

PhxSunsFan1234 wrote:You'd think teams would learn from Derrick Williams situation. Same player. Tweener. Athletic. Sucks in the NBA.

Tweener maybe but as a player he's nothing like Derrick Williams. In fact, their strengths and weaknesses are so dissimilar that if you combined the two guys you'd have a first ballot Hall of Fame player.

PhxSunsFan1234 · Post #19 » by **PhxSunsFan1234** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 8:05 pm

Zelaznyrules wrote:
PhxSunsFan1234 wrote:You'd think teams would learn from Derrick Williams situation. Same player. Tweener. Athletic. Sucks in the NBA.

Tweener maybe but as a player he's nothing like Derrick Williams. In fact, their strengths and weaknesses are so dissimilar that if you combined the two guys you'd have a first ballot Hall of Fame player.

-Both undersized for their position; too small for PF. Too slow for SF
-Both can't shoot; Williams can a bit better than Gordon, but that's not saying anything lol.
-Both extremely athletic.
-Gordon can hopefully become a Shawn Marion type player. Defend, rebound, hustle. Score off easy buckets and passes being dished to him.
-All hope is lost for D-Williams
-I don't think Gordon was a good choice at #4.

Zelaznyrules · Post #20 » by **Zelaznyrules** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 9:02 pm

PhxSunsFan1234 wrote:
Zelaznyrules wrote:
PhxSunsFan1234 wrote:You'd think teams would learn from Derrick Williams situation. Same player. Tweener. Athletic. Sucks in the NBA.

Tweener maybe but as a player he's nothing like Derrick Williams. In fact, their strengths and weaknesses are so dissimilar that if you combined the two guys you'd have a first ballot Hall of Fame player.

-Both undersized for their position; too small for PF. Too slow for SF
-Both can't shoot; Williams can a bit better than Gordon, but that's not saying anything lol.
-Both extremely athletic.
-Gordon can hopefully become a Shawn Marion type player. Defend, rebound, hustle. Score off easy buckets and passes being dished to him.
-All hope is lost for D-Williams
-I don't think Gordon was a good choice at #4.

Williams can shoot, this is an absurd comparison. If Gordon could shoot like Williams, Aaron would be a star. And Williams is nowhere near the athlete that Gordon is - again, this is a poor comparison. But I agree, Gordon wasn't a good choice at his draft spot. Williams was also over drafted but the real problem is he was drafted by a lousy organization and then traded to an even worse one.