Re-drafting the 2014 NBA Draft: Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic

Re-drafting the 2014 NBA Draft — 8. Aaron Gordon

It took a while for Aaron Gordon to find his footing in the league, but the Arizona product has found his groove as an excellent 3-and-D wing. Also, next to fellow 2014 draftee Zach Lavine, Gordon is responsible for perhaps the greatest dunk contest in modern NBA history.

A monster athlete, Gordon was always going to have high expectations coming into the league. He never really lived up to any “star potential,” however, instead settling into a more complementary role with Orlando and now Denver. He’s an elite wing defender with the strength and speed to match up with just about anyone. On offense, he offers a healthy diet of 3s and dunks. He has even developed a nifty face-up game, though he’s not to be trusted with extended on-ball creation duties.

There are some parallels to be drawn between Gordon and Andrew Wiggins: less is more sometimes. It’s better to be really good at a handful of duties than to be tasked with a dozen responsibilities and fulfill each one halfway. He’s a great third or fourth-best player on a contender.