Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon has been the subject of some NBA trade speculation. One such hypothetical has involved the Magic sending Gordon to the Portland Trail Blazers for CJ McCollum.
However, ESPN's Zach Lowe reports that swap has not been formally discussed by either team:
The leaguewide interest level in Aaron Gordon is murkier. Brooklyn discussed chasing him in prior years, but that is probably moot now. He makes sense in Portland, though NBA Twitter's beloved Gordon-for-CJ McCollum swap has never been discussed in any serious way, sources say. Could Portland pry Gordon away without surrendering McCollum? Does Zach Collins appeal to a team with Nikola Vucevic, Mo Bamba, and Jonathan Isaac? What about Anfernee Simons?
Aaron Gordon has shown upside as a hyper-athletic forward capable of taking defenders off the dribble, attacking the rim and playmaking for others. The 25-year-old has also averaged close to eight rebounds per game in each of the last three seasons.
But Gordon has yet to show he can be efficient from the perimeter, despite decent volume. This would appear imperative for a Blazers team that lacked a typical 3-and-D wing last year.
There is also the sheer fact Portland's frontcourt remains every bit as crowded as Orlando's, with both Jusuf Nurkic and Zach Collins holding things down in the paint. The Blazers might decide Gordon has more upside than either player, but it seems unlikely they would be willing to part with a bona fide scorer like McCollum.
Plus, recent extensions handed to both CJ and Damian Lillard suggest Portland hopes to build around its backcourt.
As for the Magic, they could certainly use a backcourt scorer of McCollum's caliber. However, Jonathan Isaac's ACL injury complicates a potential Gordon trade.
While Aaron Gordon may still wind up getting dealt, it doesn't seem as if it would be for CJ McCollum.
Follow Us
Subscribe