Aaron Gordon is a freakishly athletic modern power forward in the NBA who has developed himself to one of the more exciting talents in the NBA under the age of 25 (he is 22).
He is set to enter restricted free agency this summer and should be able to be one of the few players able to garner near his max potential salary slot on the market.
Because the Magic reportedly made him somewhat (barely) available at the deadline, it appears that they are not sold on re-signing him this off-season. This feels realistic because of how awful they have done at running their organization the past two years and letting their best young talent get away at times for almost literally nothing in return.
We already have the two reported biggest suitors for Gordon’s services this summer: the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks.
From Sean Deveney of the Sporting News:
“League sources told Sporting News this week that the Suns are expected to be suitors for Gordon, who starred at Arizona for one memorable season. Phoenix has ample cap room and a roster in need of more proven players. Another team with interest in Gordon, according to sources, would be the rebuilding Mavericks, who have been eager to find a budding star to fill in alongside Harrison Barnes and Dennis Smith Jr., softening the blow of Dirk Nowitzki’s retirement, which could come in just months.”
Gordon makes perfect sense in either situation. The Mavericks are in dire need of more youth, offensive firepower and athleticism that Gordon brings and Gordon would be a great fit for a potentially really fun and young Suns team built around Devin Booker, Gordon, Josh Jackson and their top five pick this season (DeAndre Ayton?? Please…).
The Suns could offer the Magic a sign-and-trade option of Marquese Chriss or Dragan Bender to help facilitate a signing as well.
I understand it is risky paying somewhere in the neighborhood of $100 million to a guy who has yet to proven he is a star, but freaks of nature that average 18 and 8 at the age of 22 don’t come on the market often so the market will dictate if that is the going rate to retain or acquire him.
