Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon has been the subject of trade talks after he reportedly requested a trade from the franchise. Several teams are reportedly interested in acquiring the 2014 no. 4 overall pick. Rumblings around the NBA trade rumors water-cooler suggest that the Boston Celtics are currently the front-runners in landing Gordon from the Magic:

Via Sam Amick of The Athletic:

Well, here’s a late-night update worth sharing, as first reported by Matt Moore of The Action Network (and confirmed by The Athletic): The Celtics are now considered the front-runners in the Gordon sweepstakes. A source with knowledge of the Gordon talks said the Celtics have indeed put two first-round picks on the table, and that the framework of the deal would also include Magic guard (and free-agent-to-be) Evan Fournier heading to the Celtics.

Celtics general manager Danny Ainge has a $28.5 million trade exception at his disposal that he can use to acquire Gordon. However, as Amick reports, constructing the deal to land him along with sharp-shooting wing Evan Fournier will not be as simple as it seems.

Aaron Gordon Trade, NBA Trade Rumors Tomfoolery

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The likely case would entail Boston dealing defensive guard Marcus Smart, who has long been considered the heart and soul of the Celtics. Furthermore, they would need to find a third team to make the math work to bring in Gordon's $18.6 million contract as well as Fournier's figure this season.

Following an Eastern Conference Finals appearance last season, the Celtics find themselves struggling mightily in 2020-21. Boston needs some kind of change ahead of the March 26th deadline. An Aaron Gordon trade won't exactly solve their big man issues, but at 6-foot-8, he has enough size, athleticism, and versatility to help the Celtics. Fournier should also give them another shooter and shot creator off the bench.

However, the big caveat with this potential deal is the possibility of parting ways Marcus Smart. The 6-foot-3 guard brings a lot of tenacity and hustle, especially on the defensive end. The Celtics will certainly miss his energy on both ends of the floor. Nonetheless, as the deadline approaches, continue to expect more wild fun from the NBA trade rumors realm — involving Aaron Gordon trade talk and others.