[Source](https://x.com/samesfandiari/status/1790600355832832493?s=46&t=hc5NrTRIWu5hhJBvuuWS9g)
> ‘Fun mental exercise: Who’s the next Aaron Gordon? Guy miscast in role as star who might excel as the ultimate glue guy?’
[Mahoney]:
>“I actually asked Aaron Gordon about this when I interviewed him for this story. His answer? Scottie Barnes.”
by AashyLarry
50 Comments
sorry it’s PJ Washington.
Thought it would be Brad Beal but this season definitely proved it’s not
Could’ve been Jerami Grant if he actually cared about winning
Barnes will be better as a #2, but in the same way Siakam is(was?) a totally different caliber player to Gordon
[Barnes is a much better player than Gordon was his first 3 seasons](https://stathead.com/tiny/pcK8n)
Mikal Bridges has had a weird “is he, isn’t he” type of trajectory but I can see him as a glue guy wit the right squad
It’s so obviously Mikal or Jeremi Grant lol.
I get the point and comparison, as Barnes would be a fucking awesome Swiss-army knife playing off a true superstar, but Barnes is so much better already than Gordon ever was in Orlando.
This seems like a massive overreaction to me about scottie. He’s 22 and had put up much better efficiency and playmaking numbers than gordon ever did in Orlando and not to mention has better rebounding/blocks/steals numbers.
He keeps improving too. His jumper just needs to keep getting better
Zach Lavine?
I mean, Scottie is already significantly better as a #1 than Gordon *ever* was in Orlando. I do think his skillset would be really good next to an on-ball superstar though
I’m sure this was a compliment and Scottie and AG have similar shades of game but Scottie was already an all star level player this year, better than any AG Orlando season. But yea put Scottie next to Jokic and Murray and it’s a dream team.
I do think it’s interesting How certain prospects can go from generational to a potential perennial All-Star very quickly. I remember two seasons ago people were comparing Evan Mobley to Tim Duncan and some people wanted him traded earlier this season. Also how Cade Cunningham went from the dude does going to save Detroit and now potentially he is going to be the one that has to be saved. I do think patience is a virtue that fans don’t have, but there is a time where everybody has to admit that a player might not be who everyone thought they were. That doesn’t mean you have to be completely out on them though.
In my unbiased opinion, Julius Randle
Obviously not the ‘next’ but I feel like wiggins is a case of this. He’s solid but they need to realize whatever star level player in him just isn’t there anymore. Could be an awesome role player though
This is selling Scottie wayyyyy short. He is already an all star and can be a legit #2 option on a championship caliber team.
Yall in here overrating the hell out of Orlando AG, if he were Scottie he’d still be in Orlando maxed out. I’d say Vassell though. I like him a lot but I don’t think he’s a #2 on a contender good
Randle before the injury was that. Randle used to have to do everything on the Knicks cause our guards were doo doo. Now we got Brunson and Randle is a free birdy
I think of Aaron Gordon as the closest thing to Marion or maybe Iguadala. Would love to see Scottie take this mantle one day.
Also, even though they’re not miscast as star players, two guys I could see fulfilling the star role player role in the future are the Thompson twins.
Porzingis is sort of that for us this season. Went from the All Star, Unicorn and all the hype in New York then misused/not the right fit in Dallas to being consistently regarded as the key to the Celtics unlocking their offense and winning a chip a chip this year.
I mean Scottie is way better than AG ever was as the lead guy.
Cade Cunningham
PJ Washington? He’s been great with the Mavs.
give it a few years but could be cade
I feel like Scottie is better no? I do agree that fitting him alongside an on ball superstar would be the best for him but Scottie can playmake at a great level, defend and can score here and there.
It’s obviously Ben Simmons once he gets his mojo back
That’s harsh on Scottie man. Mikal is a better answer
OB Toppin
Uhh, has Aaron Gordon ever been an all star?
It’s Cade Cunningham to me
Credit to Aaron Gordon, but a lot of players can fill his role when playing with Jokic
Patrick Williams is an 8th man roleplaying as a star
Maybe Jalen Green. Would like to see him on an experienced team with a smaller role. He doesn’t look like a 1 or 2 option imo
so barnes is a 2/3 guy but hes going to get dam near 300 mill this summer? lol
Evan Mobley – doing it on both ends and prob wont step up in that big #2/3 role. Would best serve as the glue guy supporting a few stars.
Mikal Bridges is the best answer for this since have seen him in both roles
Other than him, maybe Brandon Ingram? Or LaMelo although he might be too ball dominant
It’s still very early for him, but Brandon Miller seems like the sort of guy who might be overmatched to be a pure #1 on a team but flourish once he gets out of Charlotte and plays with real talent around him.
I agree that Barnes is kinda miscast as a#1 option but I see his ideal role as more of a 2016 draymond than an Aaron Gordon, not to say that Gordon isn’t a really good player
Cade Cunningham
Is the previous Aaron Gordon Andre Iguadala?
It is Evan Mobley, had star potential, ROY runner-up, but is slowly developing in to a very good player on both ends of the court. He will continue to improve over next few years but will never be a #1 or #2 on a competitor but he’ll make a hell of a glue guy on one.
Karl Anthony Towns 👀
Give it another year or so and it will be Evan Mobley.
Eh, he can thrive with the ball in his hands. That’s not AG.
If that’s true that’s not good for the Raptors then, they’re still gonna need to tank a couple more years
This will not be a popular opinion at all, but LaMelo Ball. If a team had a star or two and added Melo in the role Lonzo has had so far in his career, I simply see no way he doesn’t absolutely thrive
5 years ago I thought it was Tobias
lol Scottie is not Gordon, he averaged over 20 a game and has never even really been the main guy comforting Siakam and the remnants of the their championship roster were still getting a lot of touches there.
Lauri Markkanen
I feel like Markelle Fultz has kind of saved his career by doing this. Hasn’t quite gotten to glue guy on a championship team level but I’m impressed he’s found a way to contribute after what went down in Philly.