Aaron Gordon
Birthdate: Sept. 16, 1995 (San Jose, Calif.)
School: Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.) Class: 2014 (OFFICIAL) Height: 6'9" Weight: 220 NBA Position: PF |
Scouting Report 1.0 — 06.18.2014 (Matthew Quammen)
A freak "tweener" at the forward position which, coming out of Arizona, may scare some Minnesota Timberwolves fans, as similar things were said about Derrick Williams three years ago. Unlike Williams, Gordon is a winner, defender, has an incredibly high motor, and generally looks like he gives a shit. Gordon helped himself with his measurements at the combine, as he came in at a full 6'9". It was a wakeup call to those who didn't think he can play power forward in the NBA. He measured half an inch shorter than Blake, but has a longer wingspan (by three inches) and standing reach (by two inches) than Alligator Arms Griffin.
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He also registered the best lateral quickness of anyone at the combine. Gordon will be an impact defender from day one, with the ability to guard wings and most fours. He is disruptive, tough, and has a desire to lock up his man, along with a very good rebounding rate. Offensively, everyone has seen the highlight alley-oops, but outside of that he appears a little awkward. His shot is a work in progress. Though he shot decently from three (16-45), his free throw percentage was a ghastly 42.2%. That number would have been worst in the NBA last season.
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His dribbling also resembles a fifth grade girl chasing the ball in front of herself, but he somehow managed to keep his turnovers down. In the end, I like Aaron Gordon. He will benefit from NBA coaching on fixing his shot (just like NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard), but he will always earn minutes as a world class competitor and defender. Hard to compare; worst case he's James Johnson. I think his most accurate comparison is Andrei Kirilenko, with his hustle and defensive instincts. If he can bulk up and work on his ball handling and shooting, he could be a longer, better-defending Blake Griffin. That's a scary thought.
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