The Houston Rockets would be a major suitor for Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon, if he’s made available in trade talks leading up to the March 25 deadline, according to Matt Moore of The Action Network.
An athletic 6-foot-8 forward, Gordon is averaging 13.8 points (36.9% on 3-pointers), 7.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 29.1 minutes per game this season. Now 25 years old, Gordon is making $18.1 million this season and $16.4 million in 2021-22, which is the final year of his existing deal.
Regarding Gordon, Moore writes:
Then … there’s Aaron Gordon. Never quite the player he needs to be, which is the second coming of Shawn Marion, Gordon is the best asset the Magic have. He’s 25, shooting 36% from 3-point range (a career high) with four assists per game (another career high). Gordon needs to be the third- or fourth-best player on a team with top-end talent.
League sources said the Rockets were expected to be a major suitor for Gordon, if he’s made available.
Gordon is sidelined by a severely sprained left ankle, but he’s expected to return in March.
TRADE DEADLINE: What I’ve hearrd about buyers, sellers, and teams drifting in the middle. https://t.co/tvt81Tvdff
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) March 9, 2021
The Magic (13-23) have the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference, which could incentivize them to sell. The question, however, is whether Orlando would include a 25-year-old in such a sell-off. In theory, Gordon is young enough to still be a valuable piece for many seasons to come, even during and after a rebuilding path.
Then again, if the Magic fear losing Gordon in 2022 free agency — either from Gordon’s desire to be on another team, or not being aligned regarding his financial value — then a deal before the 2020-21 season’s trade deadline might make the most sense. This would be the last chance for Orlando to deal Gordon with multiple seasons still left on his contract, which could give them a greater return package in any trade.
From Houston’s perspective, Gordon would start next to Christian Wood in a young and uber-athletic frontcourt. General manager Rafael Stone has an abundance of future draft capital to potentially tempt the Magic in trade offers, as well as expiring contracts such as Dante Exum ($9.6 million) to help make the math work in various proposals.
At this point, it doesn’t sound as if the Magic are fully committed to trading Gordon. However, it’s certainly a storyline to monitor in the weeks ahead as the league’s March 25 deadline approaches.
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