When the Orlando Magic took Aaron Gordon with the fourth pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, he was a bundle of athletic potential. The Magic were investing instead in a player’s future and that they would be able to develop him into something.
Then-general manager Rob Hennigan would say in reference to some other players that you tend to know what a player’s potential or ceiling is by the time they reach the end of their rookie contract. Four years is a lot of time to develop.
Even through all the false starts and missed opportunities with Gordon and his development in Orlando, Gordon finally found a comfort zone last year and had a breakout year.