Report: Aaron Gordon ‘eager’ for Celtics trade, but Nuggets a serious alternative

The negotiations could go down to the wire.

The competition for Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon is starting to heat up, but the Boston Celtics remain in the mix for the Arizona product.

Gordon is reportedly “eager” to be dealt to the Celtics according to The Athletic’s Jared Weiss, but Boston faces real competition from clubs like the Portland Trail Blazers and Denver Nuggets — and win-now moves being made by the Sacramento Kings suggest oft-mentioned target Harrison Barnes is no longer a viable option. Weiss relates that the Atlanta Hawks may want to hang on to John Collins as well, meaning the forward market the Celtics are working with has contracted sharply in the last 24 hours.

Boston may well have to increase its offer to remain in the game.