Why the Detroit Pistons should not trade down with the Orlando Magic

The Orlando Magic are rumored to be interested in trading up in the upcoming NBA draft. This is why the Detroit Pistons should not partner in a deal.

The NBA draft is less than a week away, and talk of swapping picks and movement in the ranks is rampant. According to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, the Orlando Magic are interested in moving up from the 15th pick in the draft, and the Detroit Pistons may be in the range they’re looking for with the seventh pick.

While the Pistons may want to move back in the draft themselves, they should avoid partnering with the Magic, at least in the configuration that O’Connor suggests. In his mock draft, he indicates that the Magic would like to trade the 15th pick in a package with Aaron Gordon. More than likely, the Pistons could just swap No. 7 for No. 15 and absorb Gordon’s two-year contract worth $34.5 million into their cap space.

If all of their targets (like Killian Hayes, Tyrese Haliburton and Patrick Williams) are off the board by the time the seventh pick comes up, moving back is a reasonable option for the Pistons. This would enable them to grab one of their mid-tier targets (like Aaron Nesmith) without having to waste the full value and utility of their pick.

This particular transaction, however, isn’t the move the Detroit Pistons should make. The roster has plenty of holes, but Aaron Gordon doesn’t fill any of them. They already have Blake Griffin and (depending on how free agency goes) Christian Wood, and unfortunately thus far Gordon’s career has been something of a disappointment overall.

In 2019-20, Gordon averaged just 14.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. He wasn’t efficient at all with an effective field goal percentage of just 48.4 and a woeful true shooting percentage of 51.6.

Gordon isn’t especially effective in any play type, scoring just .902 points per possession (PPP) in spot-ups, .944 PPP when he posts up and a woeful .649 PPP when he runs the pick and roll as the ball-handler. He DOES score efficiently off of cuts at 1.543 PPP, but ideally a young player like Gordon who you are trading a top-10 draft pick for would simply be able to do more than he can.

Aaron Gordon is simply not a compelling positive asset, the likes of which should be able to move a team from the 15th pick to the seventh pick. If the Magic are serious about moving up and want to engage with the Detroit Pistons, it’s going to have to take more.

In addition, 15 might be a bit later in the draft than the Pistons should aim if for if in fact they do want to pick Nesmith, and it would be a disaster if they miss out on all their top targets in the first round due to a miscalculation of who would be available where.

While this deal is highly unlikely any way you cut it, it’s safe to say that if it does take place and the Pistons trade for Aaron Gordon, the organization may be preparing for life after Christian Wood. If they get Gordon, Wood is probably gone in free agency.