Orlando Magic power forward Aaron Gordon entered free agency this year, but the team decided to bring him back. Here’s why it was the right decision.
The 2018 NBA free agency period began at midnight on July 1. Typically, that’s a time for optimism for fans of the 30 NBA teams. On the other hand, it’s also an exciting moment for NBA players as well.
For example, Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon was optimistic that he could attract the attention of an NBA team willing to give him a pay raise. Gordon got his pay hike, with that new contract came from his current team, the Magic.
Orlando is still rebuilding its roster, so it makes sense to hold onto valuable pieces while they assemble the right lineup. Agreeing to a four-year deal with Gordon happened on the the first day of free agency.
While that certainly disappointed the front offices of the Indiana Pacers and the Los Angeles Lakers, the Magic and Gordon had a right to be happy. Still, while the two sides smiled over getting the deal done, not everyone was as excited.
Sports Illustrated‘s Rohan Nadkarni wrote a well-versed article almost immediately after reports of the agreement surfaced citing the downsides for the young Gordon to remain with the Magic. While he did an admirable job making his case, allow me to offer five reasons advocating why re-signing Aaron Gordon was the right choice for the Orlando Magic.