The Pacers project have a chunk of cap room available this summer, and one player the team has its eye on is Magic power forward Aaron Gordon, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (via Twitter).
Gordon, 22, received a qualifying offer from the Magic earlier this week, ensuring that he’ll become a restricted free agent on Sunday. That move gives Orlando the right of first refusal on Gordon, so if the Pacers signed the young forward to a lucrative offer sheet, the Magic would have the opportunity to match it.
In comments to reporters, Gordon has suggested he’ll be seeking a maximum-salary contract this offseason, though he has also said that he’d like to remain in Orlando. For their part, the Magic have said they’re “hopeful” of reaching an agreement with Gordon. However, an offer from a team with significant cap room like the Pacers could present an interesting decision for the Magic.
It’s not clear yet exactly how much space Indiana will have available once the new league year begins, since the team has several non-guaranteed or partially guaranteed contracts on its books, and Thaddeus Young still has a player-option decision to make. However, the club should be able to clear $20MM+ without sacrificing important pieces.
Gordon enjoyed a career year for the Magic in 2017/18, averaging 17.6 PPG and 7.9 RPG in 58 games. He’d be an interesting long-term fit in Indiana, where the Pacers have two young centers – Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis – in their frontcourt along with the veteran Young.
Would be a great pickup
They must have liked his body of work in “Uncle Drew”
They don’t need another big, they need a guard who could get his own shot aside from Oladipo.
It’s Indiana fam they need as much talent as they can get.
The Pacers say Aaron Holiday is a clone of Darren Collison. They want to groom him for next summer when Joeseph and Collison become free agents.
Kevin Pritchard has been saying all summer that he wants to start Sabonis and Turner together and play them 25-30 minutes a game. Because of this, I think “if” Young opts out, the Pacers “could” offer Gordon the max and play him at small forward. They think Bogdonovich has reached his maximum potential. They also have Will Barton targeted.
I see the Pacers letting Al Jefferson go. That and Young would be $23 million. Today’s Indianapolis Star says they think if Young asks for a multi year contract, the Pacers will let him go. Pritchard has said with Turner and Sabonis being up for extensions in the near future, he wants them playing together. He has Sabonis shooting 3’s (He can have his dad, the best player in European history, as his personal trainer, and Larry Bird as his shooting instructor). Turner has gotten noticably stronger doing yoga.
Gordon cannot play the 3. Sorry but Nowitzki is the best euro ever, way way way ahead of Sabonis.
Not the Sabonis Russians knew. But not being Russian, I cannot say for sure if Sabonis Sr is the best Euro. He was still amazing old, in the NBA.
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Gordon at the 3, with Miles and Sabonis the younger as the front line, might make a better football front line. The double-center thing needs a Barton type at the 3. It must not have worked with Bogdanovic, since the Turner/Sabonis combo was supposedly below the Indy norm.
He’s Lithuanian dude
So, USSR at first. I see his prime was in Spain, and for USSR and Lithuania. Good catch
Maybe the Pacers see a guy they can develop. He definitely has the profile of a guy who might have more upside from here than a typical 4 year guy. Orlando did about as poor a job with him in his first 3 years as possible (couldn’t have done worse if they tried, which at times it seems they were). It’s not the fault of the current regime, and they may think they’re in the process of doing a reset with him (he was better last year) and want to continue it. But Max? From either team, I have to assume that’s a joke. They should work out a S&T, at a modest salary, for modest consideration.
Would look good as a Laker!
Ball-Ingram-Kuzma-Gordon-Randle.
Might even attract LBJ, then trade Ingram and Kuzma for Leonard…
Ball-Kawhi-James-Gordon-Randle
(I personally like the first starting 5, much younger and have a lomger dynasty together – but wouldn’t say no to swapping Ingram for Kawhi and Gordon for Thompson; Ball-Klay-Kawhi-Kuzma-Randle)