NBA Rumors: Aaron Gordon Trade Could Hamper Current Magic Campaign

The Orlando Magic are reportedly open to trading Aaron Gordon although doing so could have adverse effects. Considering the team is dealing with injuries to several players, dealing away the 24-year-old forward at this stage is a bit tricky.

The Magic are already dealing with season-ending injuries to Jonathan Isaac and Al-Farouq Aminu, meaning and Aaron Gordon trade would leave a big vacuum at the frontline, ESPN reported. Orlando currently sits at the 8th spot of the NBA Eastern Conference, readily in contention for a playoff seat. However, the fact is that they are on a five-game losing streak so dealing away the 6-foot-8 forward may further compound their woes.

The thing about the latest trade talk involving Aaron Gordon is that they have been humming in the past. And as most can see, the Magic ended up keeping him. However, he has been in and out of the rotation of head coach Steve Clifford. Orlando usually relies on him, Isaac and Nikola Vucevic. Gordon normally plays the small forward position. But with Isaac out, the 4th overall pick of the 2014 NBA Draft has been spending time at power forward.

Regardless, the 2019-20 NBA season is hardly one of Gordon's best. A look at Basketball-Reference.com shows him averaging 13.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in 43 games. Though his scoring has picked up, he is lacking a bit in the rebounding department.

Another puzzling thing is Gordon's current contract. He is just in the second year of a four-year $84 million pact he signed in 2018. He is not scheduled to be a free agent until 2022 per Spotrac.

With all those on the table, trading Gordon may only happen if the Magic get a handsome return in exchange. Although there have been discussions, a safe bet is that Orlando is simply listening to what other teams plan to pitch. Unless it is something hard to resist, seeing Gordon wear a new uniform is farfetched.

Among the teams that could use Gordon include the Chicago Bulls. Aside from the fact that the team has prioritized its youth movement, Gordon could be the answer to their frontline woes.

In a previous post, it was mentioned how the Bulls have a big hole to fill with Otto Porter Jr. and Chandler Hutchinson out with injuries. The Magic could deal Lauri Markannen who is having an awful season. Could this be enough to swing a trade for Gordon?