The Nuggets are close to completing a trade to acquire Aaron Gordon.
Adrian Wojnarowski has reported the Nuggets are sending Gary Harris to the Magic. R.J. Hampton and a first-round pick will also be in the deal.
Denver has already acquired JaVale McGee on trade deadline day. Orlando has dealt Nikola Vucevic and Evan Fournier to Chicago and Boston respectively. The Celtics were thought to be in the race for Gordon.
Gordon is perfect for Denver
Looking to build on a trip to the Western Conference Finals in the bubble, Gordon brings everything Denver needs. He’s an excellent, switchable defender. He’s shooting the three better than ever. While the Nuggets aren’t short on shot creators, Gordon provides another solid decision-maker.
Gordon is an ideal partner for Michael Porter Jr in the forward spots. The former dunk contest champion can cover for Porter’s defensive weaknesses, while providing spot-up shooting and occasional playmaking. Jamal Murray, Porter, Gordon and Nikola Jokic is an awesome quartet to challenge the Lakers, Jazz, Suns and Clippers for Western Conference supremacy.
Denver has missed Jerami Grant. Grant and Gordon are not direct comparisons, but his role will be similar, albeit with greater passing ability and an even higher level of athleticism.
Magic add more picks
Hampton is a talented young player. He’s already shown upside in his rookie year. A future Denver first isn’t the most tantalizing asset around, but the Magic are doing all they can to collect picks.
This is the third first-round pick they have acquired on deadline day. They also landed two seconds in the Fournier trade.
The rebuild is well underway in Florida, and while there were reports of Gordon having second thoughts about his trade request, a deal always seemed inevitable.
This is a solid return for Orlando, though some may have expected another pick or young player in the deal. Boston, Golden State and Portland are the teams who lost out here. Gordon would have helped all three markedly, and instead he joins a team with arguably the most exciting young core in the league.
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