Teams are in full swing of moves as the NBA trade deadline quickly approaches. The Denver Nuggets got involved with their second trade of the day, acquiring one of the bigger names available. Meanwhile, the Orlando Magic have been one of the busiest teams on Thursday, as they've acquired numerous new players onto their roster.
In one of the biggest trades to happen this year, the Denver Nuggets receive Aaron Gordon, while the Magic acquire Gary Harris, RJ Hampton, and a first-round pick in the deal, per Adrian Wojnarowski.
Gary Harris, RJ Hampton and a first-round pick to the Magic for Aaron Gordon, source tells ESPN. https://t.co/VWMUVCokeS
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 25, 2021
Grading The NBA Trade Deadline Move
This is a massive pickup for the Denver Nuggets, as they acquire Aaron Gordon in a crucial portion of the season. They're currently fifth in the Western Conference and are clearly trying to make a serious run at the championship this year. Earlier on Thursday, the front office upgraded the center position, but now, after adding Aaron Gordon to the rotation, this Nuggets team has gotten substantially more athletic at power forward. Gordon is averaging 14.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game.
Aaron Gordon is an electrifying player who gives the Nuggets some much-needed athleticism. He's capable of playing small forward or power forward, which makes him a versatile tool for Denver to mix into their rotation. The front office had to give up a couple of players and a draft pick to acquire Gordon, but adding him to the team should make them much better moving forward. With the Los Angeles Lakers in trouble due to injuries, the Nuggets now have a chance to finish within the top three in the Western Conference.
It's clearly rebuilding time in Orlando, as they've now sold Nikola Vucevik and Aaron Gordon in one day. However, this trade with the Nuggets seems to be a fantastic deal for the Magic. Despite the fact this team likely won't be playoff relevant for another year or two, the front office has done a great job in acquiring talented rotational players while gathering draft picks in the future.
Gary Harris hasn't quite panned out like most thought he would. He's been declining since the 2017-18 season, as that was the best year of his career so far. Some of that might have had to do with fitting the scheme, so a change of scenery might be what he needs to resurrect his career. RJ Hampton is an exciting rookie who hasn't had enough playing time to really shine as of yet. Now that he's in Orlando, Hampton should be gaining much more playing time, as the Magic will want to develop him into a solid player for the future. The additional first-round pick acquired in this trade is the cherry on top in this deal. Not only does Orlando add solid depth to the roster, but they also have more ammo for the NBA draft.
AARON GORDON-NUGGETS TRADE AT THE NBA DEADLINE GRADE
Denver Nuggets – (A-)
Orlando Magic – (A)
The Nuggets receive an -A as Aaron Gordon gives the team a nice push for the postseason. Considering they're only 6.5 games behind first-place, Denver might be able to make a strong effort in capitalizing the number one seed for the playoffs. However, they did have to lose Harris, Hampton, and a first-round selection to do so. The Magic receive a higher grade simply because they're building a decent team while also acquiring more draft picks. Harris is a good player who may thrive in a new environment, while Hampton is an exciting prospect. Orlando's front office is going about this rebuild with smart moves.
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