Per Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, the Denver Nuggets were listed among the teams that have inquired about trading for Orlando Magic power forward Aaron Gordon. The Nuggets have been searching for trades for an established third star to pair with Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, but they have been largely unsuccessful to this point. Per Haynes, the Nuggets or any other suitor will have to bring a hefty offer to pry him away from Orlando. This was what Haynes had to say about Gordon in his article published today:
“The seven-year veteran is open to a change of scenery with the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets and Detroit Pistons inquiring about trading for the versatile high-flyer, league sources told Yahoo Sports.A dark horse squad that could join the Gordon pursuit: the Portland Trail Blazers, sources said.
The Orlando Magic value Gordon and are said to have a substantial price tag attached to his availability.”
Gordon’s fit with Denver would be an interesting one. His best position is power forward where his natural athleticism gives him an advantage over other lumbering forwards. However, the same can be said for Michael Porter Jr., who Denver has rebuffed for trades to this point, along with Paul Millsap, who wouldn’t be traded as he doesn’t fit into the Magic’s plans to build a long-term contender.
Millsap would likely get pushed to the bench which would create a starting forward duo of Porter and Gordon, two versatile options to play with Nikola Jokić. Gordon’s role in Denver would be similar to the one the Nuggets had reserved for Jerami Grant, who rebuffed Denver’s contract offer in the offseason. At forward, Gordon would be asked to guard many of the tougher forwards in the NBA while serving as a complementary option on the offensive end, something Grant was unwilling to do.
It will also be interesting to see how the trade would work out based on what the Magic are likely to expect as compensation for a player that was once viewed as a key part of their future. If the initial value is multiple first-round picks and a couple of young players, Denver would be wise to wait them out until the trade value becomes more palatable. A package centered around one of Gary Harris or Will Barton, Bol Bol, R.J. Hampton and a future first would hopefully get it done. That may seem like a lot for Denver to give up on the surface, but, for a team looking to push out of the middle of a deep Western Conference, those are the moves you have to make.
