Magic's Aaron Gordon returns to full-contact practice

The Orlando Magic had an extra participant in practice Monday - one that they weren't expecting to have quite so soon.

Aaron Gordon went through his first full-contact practice of the preseason, getting through his first full session without issue. Gordon fractured his jaw in mid-July while "horsing around" with his brother and was expected to make a full return sometime this week.

The Magic play their next preseason game on Tuesday against the Miami Heat, though it's unclear if Gordon will participate. Failing that, Orlando still has three games remaining on their exhibition slate to get the 20-year-old some game action.

Gordon is entering an important second season of his career, one in which he should develop a more clear role within the Magic's young core. That includes the opportunity to show head coach Scott Skiles he belongs in Orlando's starting lineup, as the team's power forward position is presumed to be open for competition in camp.

Skiles used Gordon at both forward positions on Monday, a role that Gordon can probably expect during the season. Gordon is quick enough to hang with some small forwards on the perimeter, but his value may be maximized as a stretch-four of sorts, should his range develop as the Magic hoped when they drafted him fourth overall in 2014.

An effective and versatile defender, the 6-foot-9 Gordon shot 27.9 percent from outside of 16 feet in a small sample, an encouraging sign that his range may eventually extend to the 3-point line. He also averaged 21.7 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in three Orlando Summer League games, showing enormous strides from his rookie campaign.