After weeks of speculation, the Nuggets are getting their guy.
The Nuggets and Magic reached an agreement to send forward Aaron Gordon to Denver in exchange for Gary Harris, R.J. Hampton and a “slightly” protected first-round pick, league sources told The Denver Post. The deal was reached only hours ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline.
The Nuggets are also getting Magic wing Gary Clark in the deal, a source said.
According to a person with knowledge of Gordon’s thinking, the versatile forward came away from Tuesday’s game against Denver particularly impressed with the Nuggets’ ball movement and spacing and saw how seamlessly he could fit in alongside Nikola Jokic.
Gordon, who has spent his entire seven-year career in Orlando, requested a trade from Orlando weeks ago, a league source said, citing frustration over numerous losing seasons. After this year, the 25-year-old has one year left on his contract.
Gordon, a hyper-athletic forward, offers an immediate infusion of talent in Denver to pair alongside budding star Michael Porter Jr. and Will Barton. The fit alongside Porter was crucial, with Porter making strides in recent weeks as an improved defender on the interior. Gordon addresses Denver’s biggest defensive weakness as they build toward the postseason.
Internally, the Nuggets thought Hampton had an extremely high ceiling, but the potential to add Gordon and bolster their perimeter defense was too enticing.
The stout 6-foot-8 wing represents the physical defensive presence Denver has sorely lacked since the dual departures of Jerami Grant and Torrey Craig in free agency last offseason.
The trade is also a clear indication of the Nuggets’ expedited timeline. By converting a valuable young prospect into immediate help, the internal expectation is the Nuggets are built to win now.
The same line of thinking could be applied to Denver’s acquistion of JaVale McGee earlier on Thursday given that McGee is on an expiring contract.
In Orlando, in part due to injuries, Gordon never fully met expectations after being drafted No. 4 overall in the 2014 draft. The Nuggets believe that a fresh start, with more talent surrounding Gordon, could cultivate a better version of the young forward.
In 24 games this season, Gordon’s averaged 14.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game. His 39% mark from the 3-point line is a career-high.
