Blazers interested in Aaron Gordon

[ehizzy3]

So Hood/Collins/Simons for Gordon actually keeps us about 200k below the tax line. I'd rather trade Trent than Simons, but using Ant makes this a bit more simple.

Think we still need to be players in the buyout market, so it's important for us to do some manipulation with our 13-15th spots

I think we have to include Trent if we want to get Gordon. Orlando has little use for Ant with Fultz and Cole Anthony. But they do need a 2 guard when Fournier walks/traded.

But if they are demanding a first as well, I don’t know how we will get it done

 

[illmatic99]

Agreed with rather sending out Trent than Simons. I wonder if there's a possibility to send Trent somewhere for a first rounder and very cheap player coming back, then pass along the first rounder to Orlando? I'm just not sure where he would fit well (and both sides would want to commit to the point of giving up something now).

Doing that, then sending the pick to Orlando along with Simons/Hood/Collins seems like the move, but we would have to have a plan in place to fix the backcourt ASAP.

All of this becomes much easier if Jones is included instead of Collins, and his contract considerations line up better as well (i.e., he'll probably opt out this summer anyways) but I think he'd be so much better getting to guard perimeter players with Gordon here (and thriving off of Gordon's passing), it'd suck to lose him.

Right I was thinking that, but there are very few teams that would give up a first for Gary and also be sufficiently over the cap next summer. Boston and Orlando are probably the only targets. I also don't want to just hand a WC playoff team Gary for a late first right before we face them in the playoffs.

Trading Jones would be so much easier, but I really want to see him with Roco and Nurk in the playoffs next to him on the defensive line. Unless we're getting a stellar defender at the wing back, I don't want to give up DJ.

 

[illmatic99]

The threes off the dribble are something I didn't think he was capable of.

 

[Hoopguru]

To me, Id rather go after a 3 thats can score and defend.
RoCo and Gordon are similar if you look at recent & career stats. RoCo gets more blocks and steals. They both rebound about the same. Gordons contract is up after next year and chances are he going to want more money than Cov.
If you want Neil to swing for the fences why not go after Brown from Boston 3&D, or someone like that even if you have to include a CJ. Brown & Tatum are similar to Dame & CJ has they both play the same position primarily. Just a thought.

 

[Minstrel]

If you want Neil to swing for the fences why not go after Brown from Boston 3&D, or someone like that even if you have to include a CJ. Brown & Tatum are similar to Dame & CJ has they both play the same position primarily. Just a thought.

Portland doesn't have the ammo to get Brown. I'm sure everyone on this forum would prefer Brown to Gordon.

The difference between Brown/Tatum and Dame/CJ is that Brown/Tatum overlap in good ways--they're athletic, long wings who can defend and score. Tatum is 6'8'', so can easily play power forward alongside Brown. Boston isn't going to break that duo up just because they're both really good and athletic wings--those are the types of players you want as many of as possible, these days.

 

[Hoopguru]

Portland doesn't have the ammo to get Brown. I'm sure everyone on this forum would prefer Brown to Gordon.

The difference between Brown/Tatum and Dame/CJ is that Brown/Tatum overlap in good ways--they're athletic, long wings who can defend and score. Tatum is 6'8'', so can easily play power forward alongside Brown. Boston isn't going to break that duo up just because they're both really good and athletic wings--those are the types of players you want as many of as possible, these days.

I agree with that but what if you included CJ, Nurk, Trent etc. I mean swing for the fence. Boston is struggling, who know. Im just saying/sounding off, Gordon isn't the make a difference trade everyone wants Neil to make.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

My thought is that a year ago if Blazer fans had been given the choice between getting Gordon or getting RoCo, they’d have been about evenly divided as to which to go for. I’m not sure Gordon is enough of a needle mover to be worth disrupting the roster mid season.

Unless Olshey is really focused on next year rather than this year?

 

[boredinsalem]

Right I was thinking that, but there are very few teams that would give up a first for Gary and also be sufficiently over the cap next summer. Boston and Orlando are probably the only targets. I also don't want to just hand a WC playoff team Gary for a late first right before we face them in the playoffs.

Trading Jones would be so much easier, but I really want to see him with Roco and Nurk in the playoffs next to him on the defensive line. Unless we're getting a stellar defender at the wing back, I don't want to give up DJ.

Here's a thought, what about the NYK? Thibs wants to win now and probably feels like he could teach Gary D. They need shooting and would probably like to add a young running mate to Quickley. Gary is Klutch so I would imagine he'll try to get steered to a big market.

Gordon, Austin Rivers, and Dwayne Bacon to the Blazers
Derick Jones and Gary Trent to NYK
Rodney Hood, Kevin Knox, Anfernee Simons, and NYK #1 to Orlando

Our backcourt rotation would be pretty slim, but Dame and CJ will get the lions share anyways. Frontcourt rotation would be a thing of beautify. Lots of switchability, rebounding, playmaking. We'd basically be committing to letting our backcourt flamethrow and being more physical than other teams (with Roco at 3). If Nurk gets healthy, I could see it being pretty effective in the west. Also, I think Gordon/Roco probably handle Lebron/Davis better than any other team.

Probably too big to get done though. My theory is the more complicated a trade gets, the more unfeasible it is. It would set us up beautifully for next year though. All the important pieces are signed, exceptions available to use, not in luxury tax this year (so non-repeater), and can kick the tires on Collins, who I presume Olshey still values.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Rivers and MCW

 

[blazerkor]

Rivers and MCW

Yeah who wants a consistent guard with size that can defend both back court positions and run an offense. We've never been in a position where we'd have benefited from having someone like that before.

 

[wizenheimer]

Unless Olshey is really focused on next year rather than this year?

Olshey is always focused on next year....the next year of his salary

 

[Further]

It doesn’t always need to be a needle mover, we have those. Yes it would be nice to get another star but if we can just get a little better on D and give Dame one more solid option on O during the first few quarters that could be enough to swing our point margin squarely to the positive. Add back Nurk and our now-healthy CJ and that small upgrade could be what the Blazers need to get Dame to the post season with something left in the tank. Aaron Gordon could be exactly that. Not a swing to fences but a solid boost forward.

 

[illmatic99]

Article is a bit Celtics heavy, but some notes:

Aaron Gordon is ready for a relocation, as sources tell The Athletic that he asked Orlando Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman for a trade through his representative in February.

... Gordon, who is one of the most sought after players at the deadline, has also been at the center of talks with Houston, Minnesota, Denver and Portland, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

The Magic have been listening to offers for Gordon going back to last season, maintaining an asking price of multiple first-round picks or a pick with a good young player, per sources. But with Gordon having made it clear last month that he’s ready to move on, and interested teams well aware that he’s eager for a new start in a competitive environment where he can play a pivotal role, it still remains to be seen if a Gordon deal will go down.

Orlando came close to completing deals with Gordon in the past, with a trade at last season’s deadline sending him to Phoenix for Kelly Oubre and a draft pick falling just short and a pre-draft trade sending Gordon to Portland for the multi-pick package that landed the Blazers Robert Covington reaching the finish line before Orlando backed out, per league sources. Gordon has been aware of the team’s past trade discussions, according to league and player sources.

The desired package has remained in the same ballpark at the deadline, but the Magic recognize this is the optimal time to get a Gordon deal done and may finally inch closer to the middle of the table. With Gordon showing little progress on a losing team and entering the final year of his contract, his value will decline this summer. The Magic have the league’s fourth-worst record after a 112-96 blowout loss in Boston Sunday and this appears to be their window to cash in on their non-essential veterans.

 

[GDiama]

From The Athletic. No chance we can match that offer. Especially coming from a shit team like Houston so picks will be high. What are they thinking.

As far as the Gordon market, the Rockets and Magic have engaged in talks on a Gordon deal to Houston for two first-round draft picks, sources have told The Athletic. No deal is imminent on this front as of this writing, but there have been significant talks. The Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets and Portland Trail Blazers remain interested in Gordon, sources say, but Orlando has held a firm value of its 25-year-old forward. Sources tell me and The Athletic’s Jared Weiss and Sam Amick that the Celtics have interest in Gordon and have engaged in conversations with the Magic.

 

[illmatic99]

From The Athletic. No chance we can match that offer. Especially coming from a shit team like Houston so picks will be high. What are they thinking.

As far as the Gordon market, the Rockets and Magic have engaged in talks on a Gordon deal to Houston for two first-round draft picks, sources have told The Athletic. No deal is imminent on this front as of this writing, but there have been significant talks. The Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets and Portland Trail Blazers remain interested in Gordon, sources say, but Orlando has held a firm value of its 25-year-old forward. Sources tell me and The Athletic’s Jared Weiss and Sam Amick that the Celtics have interest in Gordon and have engaged in conversations with the Magic.

Houston is not gonna trade their lottery picks for Gordon, in addition to salary relief. These picks are likely heavily protected and/or swaps with stipulations. This blip is likely coming from Orlando.

 

[tester551]

Houston is not gonna trade their lottery picks for Gordon, in addition to salary relief. These picks are likely heavily protected and/or swaps with stipulations. This blip is likely coming from Orlando.

One of those picks would be Portland's that we gave up in the Covington trade.

 

[illmatic99]

One of those picks would be Portland's that we gave up in the Covington trade.

Wouldn't that be ironic...

I still am failing to see why Houston wants Gordon. They have a better player in Wood who occupies much of the same space as AG would and they're in no place to give up draft capital for a guy who would only raise their floor.

Also, I know he has no say in this ultimately, but if Gordon is in a position where he's requesting a trade out of Orlando, why would he agree to go to a worse situation in Houston where he still wouldn't be close to winning?

Not buying this Houston thing for multiple reasons-- I'll maintain that it's coming from the Magic side trying to boost value.

 

[illmatic99]

the fuck is this nonsense about large market and branding?



oh hell no to this dude if that's on his mind.

 

[julius]

So basically that's code for "I want to play for the Clippers or Lakers".

 

[illmatic99]

i mean.... branding? are you kidding? His brand is the dunk contest runner up. that's literally been it, and chronic underachiever. I think he could help us and a team in a lesser role where he's focusing on the intangibles, but that doesn't seem to be his interest.

 

[BigGameDamian]

the fuck is this nonsense about large market and branding?



oh hell no to this dude if that's on his mind.

LoL... It's a players league!

 

[glazeduck]

i mean.... branding? are you kidding? His brand is the dunk contest runner up. that's literally been it, and chronic underachiever. I think he could help us and a team in a lesser role where he's focusing on the intangibles, but that doesn't seem to be his interest.

Aren't you kinda making his point for him here? If all you can say about him -- positively or negatively is that he's the dunk contest guy -- it means that his brand isn't as developed as it could be. Does that mean he's a superstar and no one knows it? Maybe, maybe not but this isn't And1, he's very obviously more than just the dunk guy or he wouldn't be in the NBA...

 

[julius]

i mean.... branding? are you kidding? His brand is the dunk contest runner up. that's literally been it, and chronic underachiever. I think he could help us and a team in a lesser role where he's focusing on the intangibles, but that doesn't seem to be his interest.

IF this is what he actually wants, he's a fool. I get wanting to have as much $$ as possible, but really, branding? He's a middle of the road player right now, branding isn't what he needs help with. He needs help with improving his game and becoming a better player.

If that's what is his concern, that's a player to avoid. As people in the twitter thread said, he has his priorities out of whack. That mentality is lazy, and not in the weird racist sorta way people use lazy to describe people who aren't white, but lazy in the sense that he wants the easier way out of getting fame.

It's similar to how many people start up youtube/instagram/tiktok accounts thinking they're just one viral meme away from being rich and famous. Doesn't want to put in the hard to work to improve his game. His game hasn't improved much in the entire time he's been in the league.

Look at Dame (I know it's not a fair comparison), he's improved every single year he's been in the league. And not just small steps, he's improved leaps and bounds every year.

 

[Chris Craig]

Well, looks like the Blazers just sit it out and sign Aldridge when he's bought out

 

[julius]

Aren't you kinda making his point for him here? If all you can say about him -- positively or negatively is that he's the dunk contest guy -- it means that his brand isn't as developed as it could be. Does that mean he's a superstar and no one knows it? Maybe, maybe not but this isn't And1, he's very obviously more than just the dunk guy or he wouldn't be in the NBA...

He's not a superstar for the same reason why Nurk, Khris Middleton, Andrew Wiggins and others are not superstars. They're not good enough. It's also why Ingram, Trent and Murray aren't superstars. And it has zero to do with the size of the city they play in and the size of that city and its relation to branding opportunities.

Superstars are superstars because they're great players.

 

[julius]

Well, looks like the Blazers just sit it out and sign Aldridge when he's bought out

I kind of agree, though I suspect he won't sign with Portland anyways.

 

[calvin natt]

Last I checked Damian Lillard is one of the most successful, highly endorsed, popular stars in the entire NBA and its ONLY because he’s a great player and good citizen. Period. Portland, NY, Orlando, Miami...doesn’t matter. If Gordon believes the city is holding him back then he can F the right off. I don’t believe this is the truth necessarily but if the report is accurate he’s a dunce.

 

[illmatic99]

Gordon was already in that Uncle Drew movie with Kyrie et al, and Dame is gonna be in the Space Jam one. The branding narrative is idiotic if he really believes he needs to be in a larger market to build his brand.

 

[DDolla]

the fuck is this nonsense about large market and branding?



oh hell no to this dude if that's on his mind.

Big Market and winning.... well, bye bye Blazers

 

[Minstrel]

This is all silly. Players should be considering everything in where they want to go--where they can maximize their game, where they can win, where they can get the best business/branding opportunities, where they'd enjoy living, where they want to raise a family, etc. Acting as though they should ignore everything about their lives and business except "shut up and play better" is extremely boomer thinking. And boomers only seem to think that about athletes--anyone else, they'd recognize that maximizing your business opportunities is smart.