As the Orlando Magic looked to the transition of rebuilding, the organization shipped away a few of their key players to start over. Forward Aaron Gordon was traded to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Gary Harris, RJ Hampton, and a first-round pick. The Magic have had a tough outing this season dealing with injuries and different rotations. As the franchise has only advanced to the playoffs twice in nine seasons, it was only time to go in a new direction.

Gordon has continued to transcend his game into a well-rounded hybrid forward. He is skilled at putting the ball on the floor to create opportunities for himself and his teammates. Gordon’s season stats revolve around 14.6 points per game along with 6.6 rebounds. His scoring numbers may be lower than expected, but Gordon’s agility to play on all levels from the floor is what allows him to be a fan favorite around the NBA.

As the Nuggets remain in the hunt for a championship, the acquisition of Gordon will impact the team on both ends of the floor. Coming off of a Western Conference Finals appearance a season ago, Gordon brings optimism to the roster, having hopes of potentially becoming Western Conference Champions. There are a few scenarios of how coach Mike Malone can utilize Gordon to play at the highest level for the Denver Nuggets

Nuggets will start Gordon next to Jokic

A duo of Jokic and Gordon could be a dominating frontcourt for teams to handle. Both players can take pressure off one another as they both can create plays for themselves and others. Particularly since Gordon is quicker and more athletic than Jokic, Mike Malone should have him play in pick-and-roll situations. Although Paul Millsap has been the starting power forward for Denver, it would be a ridiculous move for coach Malone to not insert Gordon into the starting lineup.

Being the third star

The duo of Jokic and Jamal Murray has been sensational, to say the least. The two stars lead Denver to a historic playoff run in the NBA bubble that was later ended by the Los Angeles Lakers. Denver has struggled to figure out who their third consistent player could be over the past few years. Gary Harris, who was traded for Gordon, showed inconsistency on the offensive end of the floor. Other players in Michael Porter Jr are still figuring out their way in the NBA but have a bright future.

Having eight seasons under his belt means that Gordon understands what it takes to be a good NBA player. His two seasons of playoff experience have helped him along the way evolve into a tremendous all-around player. As Gordon awaits his debut with the Nuggets, the team should look to him to become one of their leaders.

Becoming a defensive anchor

Gordon may not be recognized as a defensive product in the NBA. But oftentimes, he shows to do a phenomenal job of making things difficult for the offensive player. Gordon can show the ability to potentially guard all five positions due to quickness and size. When he wants to put pressure on other teams, he can stick with players like glue and often deflect shots.

Now playing for a championship team, Gordon must apply more pressure on that end of the floor. As the Nuggets are ranked number eight in team defense, they have often been inconsistent providing effort on that side of the floor. If Gordon can be the player who sets the tone every night on the defensive end, it allows Denver to have very high chances of being a playoff threat.