Orlando Magic: Dissecting the rumored Aaron Gordon trade offer

According to a recent report by Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, the Orlando Magic were made an offer by the Brooklyn Nets for Aaron Gordon prior to James Harden joining their squad. Indeed, since that deal went down, other organizations have joined the race to try and sign Gordon too. A race that feels like it has been taking place for roughly half a decade now.

While trade rumors involving the player are nothing new, like at all, what the Nets were willing to give up, and what the Magic reportedly turned down, has piqued the interest of some fans. Apparently, at that time, the Nets were willing to part with one of Caris LeVert or Spencer Dinwiddie in order to land Gordon.

As we know now, LeVert ended up going to the Indiana Pacers and thankfully having surgery that may have saved his life, while Victor Oladipo ended up with the Houston Rockets. Both LeVert and Dinwiddie are good players who could have certainly brought something different to the Magic. Something needed even. But with the benefit of hindsight we can say;

The Orlando Magic trading Gordon Caris LeVert or Spencer Dinwiddie was a no-go

It is not that either of those guys are underwhelming, except in this case they kind of are. The Magic have looked for Gordon to move the needle for the franchise for a long time, and every time he looks close to actually doing it, he either gets injured or goes through a run of bad form. Consistency has been a problem for him.

But as the trade deadline approaches, you have franchises like the Minnesota Timberwolves and Sacramento Kings who are looking increasingly desperate to do something, anything, to become relevant again. Do either of those teams have a player like LeVert or Dinwiddie that they would be willing to give up.

Probably not, you’re certainly not getting Tyler Haliburton from the Kings and Anthony Edwards of the Timberwolves is probably asking too much as well. Both also have their first-round picks for this coming draft, one that looks to be a good one, and given that they are both as bad, if not worse, than the Magic, a pick swap seems unlikely too.

But if not one of these organizations, then others may be willing to give up a first-round pick, or a pick down the road. Perhaps the Magic would have to take on some extra money as well, but it would certainly be worth looking into. Taking on LeVert however, although having some positives associated with it, wouldn’t have pushed this team forward enough.

From a positive point of view, LeVert is under contract until 2023, and he has $36 million in salary over the final two years of his deal. He could have been viewed as a long-term player for the team, or somebody that would be easy enough to move if the Magic had wanted to do so down the road.