Before the Trail Blazers reached an agreement with Houston to acquire Robert Covington in exchange for Trevor Ariza, this year’s No. 16 pick, and a protected 2021 first-round selection, Portland used similar assets to attempt to acquire Aaron Gordon from the Magic, according to Mitch Lawrence of SiriusXM NBA Radio (Twitter link), who says Orlando didn’t bite.
Gordon is believed to be available, with one recent report suggesting the Magic are attempting to move up in the draft by attaching the forward to the No. 15 pick. However, it makes sense that Orlando would be lukewarm on an offer made up of an expiring contract and two mid-to-late first-rounders. If the Magic do move Gordon, they’d likely want to get an impact player in return, or at least create a path to land one (ie. securing a high lottery pick).
Here’s more from around the Southeast:
- Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman confirmed on Monday that his team has explored the possibility of trading up or trading down in the draft, but said the “greatest likelihood” is that the club remains at No. 15, per Roy Parry of The Orlando Sentinel.
- Hawks general manager Travis Schlenk said something similar in his Monday conference call, suggesting that staying put at No. 6 is most likely for his club, followed by trading down. As Chris Kirschner of The Athletic relays, Schlenk also spoke about Atlanta shifting from “asset accumulation to hopefully talent accumulation” using its cap room this offseason, suggesting the team is no longer prioritizing accommodating salary dumps with its cap space.
- Texas Tech guard Jahmi’us Ramsey conducted a personalized workout on Zoom with the Heat, he told reporters today (Twitter link via Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic). Ramsey added that he also did a Zoom workout that about 22 teams watched.
If Aaron Gordon and the 15 can be had in this draft for a lottery pick there are a lot of teams that should consider that.
If I am the Wizards at 9 or even the Bulls at 4 I would be all over that.
Both WAS & CHI are set at the 4 with Rui & Lauri. Gordon can’t play the 3 for his life, or the 5 for that matter so, where is the fit?
Ahead of ORL he can only fit with NYK or SAS if you ask me!
I wouldn’t consider either of those players as “locked” into a position right now. Rui is young and could probably learn while backing up Gordon for a year before Washington flipped Gordon next year. Lauri is good, but not really great. The competition between the two could improve both or Chicago could move Lauri in a follow up deal.
Of course, he he could fit with NY and SA too. But I don’t think Orlando would give him up just to move up 4 spots unless the Spurs were willing to kick in more. And New York is just a train wreck, so I ignored them.
Why Gideon is so overrated. His overall numbers for a guy with his athletic ability. He can’t shot, and his numbers only look good because he gets more minutes on a 7-8th seed Magic team. Basically if u want to improve your team. U can do better then Gordon.
why didn’t they take the portland trade? this years 15 & 16 and next years own 1st and portlands protected 1st couldn’t of got anything?
This shows that magic aren’t trying to rebuild. There front office is doing the same thing as Hannigan(keeping the same core of vucevic, Fournier & gordon) except Hannigan wasnt scared to take more risks.
The magic don’t have a plan. They draft Bamba, they don’t play him. They resigned Ross, they don’t pursue a go two guy. No wonder they can’t attract free agents. The no income tax city and still can’t attract stars as management has no intention of winning!
This is totally incorrect.
Bamba suffered a season ending injury in early Jan of his rookie season. That injury kept him off the court almost the entire summer (aka key development period for rooks).
Because of that injury recovery, he was on minute restrictions through late December of his 2nd season. Then the NBA shut down on March 11th.
The Magic have NOT had cap space to sign a “go-to guy.” They re-signed Ross because you can re-sign your own players over the cap.
FYI, the Magic have been a playoff team in last 2 seasons…and done so while being one of younger rosters in NBA.
When was the last time the magic were a top 6 team? Making the playoffs cto get bounced in the first round year after year is hardly any improvement… Florida the nice weather city and no tax state can’t attract free agents??? They have had opportunities to make trades to get better. They won’t trade Gordon but they wanna trade up?? Joke!
ORL was tied for 6th seed 18-19, lost the tiebreaker
No state tax/weather aren’t THAT big of a deal. Especially since Miami is nearby + Texas bigger markets also close.
FYI, they’ve been shopping Gordon since 18-19 trade deadline.
How do you know they have had opportunities to trade to get better? You are inside Magic front office? Now that’s a joke.
Talk crap but report comments… Speak without crying sensitive guy.
Hawks want Rondod and Hayward – why not just trade 6 for Gordon and 15? Aaron is younger and on a good contract.