Aaron Gordon has been in a lot of trade rumors this season and has reportedly asked the Magic to trade him. Gordon fits the mold of a guy the Celtics could really use and would be motivated to trade for at the NBA trade deadline.
According to Matt Moore of the Action network, the Celtics could be in prime position to land him.
The Boston Celtics are considered the frontrunners to add Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon via trade, multiple sources confirmed to The Action Network Monday night. While the framework of a deal is in active discussion and considered the leading offer, sources say no deal has been agreed upon and the Magic are expected to continue to take offers up until Thursday’s deadline.
Moore goes on to indicate that the Celtics have offered 2 first rounders, which is more than what anyone else has put on the table as of yet. The deal could involve the Celtics sending out a player, the two picks and using the TPE to take back both Gordon and Evan Fournier. The Magic reportedly want Marcus Smart but the Celtics are reluctant to give him up (for obvious reasons).
League sources indicate Orlando would like two first round picks and a young player for Gordon. Magic are ideally looking for a wing, as a potential replacement for pending free agent Evan Fournier.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) March 23, 2021
If the Celtics can get a deal done for Gordon without having to include Marcus Smart, that would appear to be the best of both worlds for Boston. In particular if they are giving up 2 first rounders to make it happen.
The Nuggets, Blazers, Mavericks, and Rockets are also named as interested parties.
Per a source: The Celtics attempted to trade for Aaron Gordon at both the 2019 and 2020 trade deadlines. At the time Orlando wasn’t open to moving Gordon and turned down all offers. Gordon’s trade request and Orlando’s lost season, have changed the dynamics this season.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) March 23, 2021
UPDATE: The Athletic’s Sam Amick confirms Action Network’s Matt Moore’s and CelticsBlog’s Keith Smith’s reporting that “the Celtics are now considered the front-runners in the Gordon sweepstakes.” The deal would also include Evan Fournier heading to Boston, but here’s the catch for many Celtics fans:
In that complex framework, the most likely scenario would then involve Celtics guard and two-time first-team All-Defensive selection Marcus Smart heading to the Magic, Gordon and Fournier being Boston-bound and the Celtics using their $28.5 million trade exception in the process.
After this season, Smart has one year left at nearly $14 million dollars left on his contract in 2021-2022. Amick also reports that the Nuggets are second in line.