Portland Trail Blazers: 3 trades team should make before deadline

2. Trade with the Orlando Magic

Why the Blazers make this trade

Aaron Gordon is a very skilled player at the power forward position and could help the Blazers take the next step in the playoffs. He is 23 years old, standing at 6’9” and 220 pounds. He’s coming off a career season last year when he averaged 17.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.8 blocks per game while shooting 43.4 percent from the field and 33.6 percent from the 3-point line.

Gordon can space the floor and play inside. A Lillard or McCollum pick-and-roll with Gordon as the screen-setter either popping to the 3-point line or rolling to the basket could be a deadly weapon for the Blazers. Amile Jefferson is throw-in so they have the right amount of roster spots. He is a two-way player whose contract does not count against the cap.

ESPN‘s Zach Lowe recently published an article that could link the Trail Blazers to Orlando Magic power forward Aaron Gordon. When talking about a Gordon trade, Lowe said:

"“Who might be available or at least gettable that we don’t expect? I keep coming back to Aaron Gordon. The Magic designed his descending contract to make him ultra-tradable.”"

Lowe went on to say:

"“Would Portland gamble on Gordon’s long-term fit next to Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum (They almost certainly wouldn’t trade McCollum straight up for Gordon)?”"

The Blazers won’t have to trade away any of their stars in this deal, but they will have to give up Zach Collins and two future first round picks. Collins is a former top-10 pick who is starting to figure out the NBA and isn’t a guy the Blazers want to move if they can avoid it.

But Gordon plays the same position and is an upgrade for the team at this point of his career. The Magic are going to want young assets for a good player of Gordon’s caliber, and Collins is the best one the Blazers have. If Portland is going all in with Lillard, McCollum, Gordon and Jusuf Nurkic, they shouldn’t worry about their draft picks for the next couple of years.

Why the Magic make this trade

In the same article, Lowe wrote that the Magic’s front office is in no rush to make the playoffs this season. They drafted power forward Jonathan Issac sixth overall in 2017 and center Mohamed Bamba sixth overall in 2018. That could mean the new Magic front office of two years has no ties to Aaron Gordon and could look to move on from him sooner rather than later. The two first round draft picks give the Magic more firepower in their trade arsenal. They could look to package the picks with a player to acquire more talent later on.

Maurice Harkless would be a nice addition to the wing depth on the Magic, and his body type and the way he plays fits the style the Magic are trying to build their team. Harkless is another long, athletic forward that can defend multiple positions. He is also on a favorable contract for the rest of his two years. The Magic need some point guard help, and Seth Curry could find his way into the starting lineup for him.

Zach Collins is on a rookie contract and is around the same age as the other young Magic players. If he emerges and becomes a starting-caliber player, the Magic could move Isaac to small forward, Collins to power forward and have Bamba at center to have one of the biggest, youngest and longest starting lineups in the league.