Orlando Magic: 5 players most likely to make the jump in 2018-19

1. Aaron Gordon

The clear choice here, Aaron Gordon received a four-year, $80 million extension on his rookie contract this summer with the hope he can be the savior the franchise is looking for.

Last season was easily his best yet, with averages of 17.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game — all career highs.

He also finally developed a more consistent shooting stroke and motion, with his 33.6 percent shooting from 3-point range being a career high too. There’s undoubtably room for improvement in this area, but now that Gordon is a part of the long-term plans, the belief is that it will come.

Players like Oladipo and Tobias Harris were moved on before they could prove that they were capable of leading a playoff-caliber team. The Magic haven’t made the same mistake with Gordon, making him the obvious choice to take up the mantle as the face of the team.

To do this, he will have to make another jump forward in what he can bring on a nightly basis, but we saw enough last season to know this is within his grasp.

Add to that his rising star off the court with a notable turn in the new Uncle Drew movie, and Gordon seems primed to bring some buzz back to a Magic franchise that desperately needs it.

We’ve already seen through his appearances in the Slam Dunk Contest what an athlete Gordon is. The next step is being that and so much more on a nightly basis.

With that kind of step forward, the Orlando Magic can be hoisted across his broad shoulders, making him the person to take the organization back in the right direction.