The Trail Blazers are among the teams showing interest in Aaron Gordon, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, who says the Magic have been open to listening to calls about the veteran forward. The Timberwolves have also been linked to Gordon multiple times since the 2020 offseason, and Charania indicates that Minnesota remains interested.
Gordon is dealing with an ankle sprain that has limited him to just one game since the start of February. He returned to action on Thursday, but logged just 14 minutes and has sat out the last two games due to “injury management.” If he’s healthy, the 25-year-old would be an intriguing fit on a Blazers squad that features star guards Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, as well as center Jusuf Nurkic.
Presumably, a Blazers offer would start with Rodney Hood‘s expiring $10MM+ contract for salary-matching purposes (Hood’s salary for 2021/22 is non-guaranteed). Portland would need about an additional $3MM in outgoing salary to sufficiently match Gordon’s $18MM+ cap hit, but would probably like to send out even more than that to avoid going into tax territory. That would make Enes Kanter ($5MM) a possible trade candidate, though he has had a nice season.
The Magic, meanwhile, would likely target young players like Gary Trent Jr., Nassir Little, Anfernee Simons, and CJ Elleby — some of those prospects would be more available than others, from Portland’s perspective. The Blazers would also be able to offer any first-rounders starting with their 2023 selection, since they’ve traded away their 2021 pick.
If Portland looks to upgrade its frontcourt without giving up multiple assets, LaMarcus Aldridge would be an option. According to Charania, the Blazers, Heat, and Celtics are considered the top contenders for Aldridge if he receives a buyout, though the Spurs remain focused on finding a trade.
Covington/Hood, Simons, Little, + 1st and 2nd?
NOT Covington.
All that for just Aaron Gordon? No thanks
Magic are afraid to deal Gordon, going on 3 years and they are horrified to let him go.
Magic have been to afraid to deal anyone of value the past couple of years. It’s like they’re playing the “This player is going to breakout next year so let’s hold onto him” game. They keep signing/drafting bigs even though they already have a dozen of them on their roster.
Gordon should have been moved a year or two ago. The same could be said for Evan Fournier. And even though he doesn’t play much, they probably won’t move Mo Bamba either (imo they should, he isn’t going to develop sitting on the bench so either find a way to get him some playing time to see what he can do or move him so they can get something for him).
The Magic are stuck in this mode of perpetual 8 seed buoyancy and to be fair, had Isaac not gone down this year they may have pushed for a 6 seed. Is that good enough? No, not when its year after year of the same minimalist goals and lack luster endings. Multiple players on the Magic are loosing value as the season goes on. Vuc, Gordon, Fournier, Ross, Bamba. Every single one of those dudea needs to be shipped for picks. Hell maybe even Issac too. It’s clear nothing is working. Time for a hard reset
Another bad hot take from someone who doesn’t watch the Magic
ORL was tied for 6th seed in 18-19…and last yr would have been 7th seed or higher if pandemic didn’t disrupt and change the season.
They did that as one of the youngest team in the playoffs…last year starting what was essentially a rookie PG.
This season was destroyed by injuries. No team in the NBA is even close to having the amount of injuries ORL have.
They’ve literally played without 4 of their starters AND without 3 of their primary back ups for the majority of the season. In fact, ORL played without a healthy PG for nearly a month, as all 3 of their PG’s (Fultz, Cole Anthony, MCW) were all injured and a 4th emergency signing PG literally suffered season ending injury after 3 games.
LMAO that their players are losing value as season goes on…trade deadline is still 9 days away…that’s dumbest hot take ever.
Typical trash hot takes from people who don’t actually watch the Magic.
ORL hasn’t dealt Gordon because Isaac suffered TWO season ending injuries. AND because Gordon is literally 25 right now.
It would have been flat out stupid for them to trade a young player w/considerable potential at 22,23, or 24 years of age, unless the return was worth it…especially since that player was on rook & then team friendly contract.
Why would ORL need to have moved Fournier 2 years ago when he was 25 and their best shooter + secondary playmaker on a solid value contract?
FYI Bamba has been ORL’s primary back up every game he’s been healthy in his first two seasons:
(18-19) 47 g / 16.3 mpg
(19-20) 62 g / 14.2 mpg
In 20-21, covid issues + failed protocol caused Bamba to miss first 1/3 of the season including training camp and the ramp up period. He’d been behind in both conditioning + trying to re-integrate back into system within a very compressed schedule with little-to-no practice time.
Despite that he’s played 20 games (10.8mpg) and in last 15 games he’s at 13.5mpg and is now back at getting the primary back up C minutes.
Orlando has been winning trades lately but they were burned in the past. Nobody is going to beat a healthy Nets team IMO.
That’s not the Nets team. It’s a team of traveling All Stars that just happen to be wearing the Nets jersey this year. There is no one on the team anymore that was developed or drafted by the Nets.
The Nets with LeVert, Allen, Russell, RHJ, and the rest were actually fun to watch and easy to root for. They were a team that somewhat thrived despite suffering through the KG/Pierce trade fallout years. Now they are just a collection of players from other teams.
Note they have held on to Dinwiddie & Joe Harris.
Blazers have few good trade assets. A trade of their 2023 1st has to be contingent on them not being a lottery team this year. That’s unlikely, but not a lock. If they are a lottery team 2022-2025 as well, the pick would never get transferred. For trade purposes, the value of the pick is somewhat diminished no matter where they end up finishing. Their best young player is Zach Collins, but he’s injured (again) and a rising RFA. Trent is also a rising RFA. DJJ can become a UFA (I believe).