Orlando Magic: 3 takeaways from the 2018 offseason

1. Aaron Gordon is the franchise player

With Gordon signing a four-year, $84 million contract, the Magic have locked down the 22-year-old University of Arizona product for the foreseeable future. Gordon had a career year in 2017-18, averaging a career high in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks, as well as minutes and 3-point percentage.

He truly balled out in a contract year, proving to the Magic and to the rest of the NBA that he can be the stretch-4 of the future in Orlando.

Gordon showed an all-around improved game in 2017-18. Go-to scoring, excelling as a ball-handler, a way better shot form and improved stamina all contributed to Gordon getting a monster deal this offseason.

Locking down a young budding player in Gordon was smart for the Magic, who haven’t had a true franchise player since Dwight Howard left in 2012. I don’t believe that Gordon has reached his ceiling yet and, if healthy, he’ll only get better.

With the Orlando Magic hopefully starting to utilize their youth to its full potential, expect AG to be the focal point of the offense. He can easily be a 20 and eight guy on a nightly basis, and the Magic have put a lot of trust — and money — in his court. He will have to show that he’s worth it. Here’s to him not having the dreaded “post-payday falloff” season in 2018-19.