The Denver Nuggets could look to shake up their roster around Nikola Jokic following a disappointing first-round playoff exit. The one player currently receiving the most external trade interest is veteran forward Aaron Gordon, according to Marc Stein.
The NBA insider notes that Denver is looking to create more financial flexibility to retain restricted free agent Peyton Watson, adding that their preference would be to move Christian Braun instead of Gordon or Jamal Murray. But that doesn't necessarily mean Gordon is off-limits, especially since offloading Braun is easier said than done, given his contract and relative down year.
Gordon has dealt with injuries, limiting him to just 87 games over the past two seasons. Perhaps that also makes Denver more inclined to move someone instrumental in its 2023 Finals run. Assuming the Nuggets are open to listening to offers for Gordon, the Portland Trail Blazers absolutely need to be among the teams to express interest.
Aaron Gordon could be a Jerami Grant upgrade for Portland
Gordon would be the perfect forward upgrade over Jerami Grant. He may not be as reliable a scorer or floor spacer, but he's quietly come a long way in that department throughout the course of his underrated career.
Gordon is also more multidimensional than Grant. He's far more impactful in just about every aspect outside of scoring, most notably his defense and rebounding.
Offensively, he's been the ideal cutter to complement Nikola Jokic's elite court vision. That would work well with Portland's final vision for this roster, as they hope to eventually utilize Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen more as offensive hubs, utilizing their passing to make reads at the top of the key.
Grant's overpaid contract does complicate things financially, as a one-for-one swap of Gordon for Grant (plus draft capital) wouldn't work. However, Denver could include a salary filler like Zeke Nnaji, who is also a trade candidate.
Portland has the roster flexibility and assets to outbid other teams for Gordon. It's fair to wonder if he'd be enough of a needle-mover to help Portland make a deep playoff run next season. But adding a veteran like Gordon in the frontcourt could be a much more calculated risk than an all-in move for a star.
At 30 years old, he's still in his prime to help the Blazers build off their playoff appearance. And perhaps most importantly, he's the right fit to help get the most out of their young core going forward.
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