Orlando Magic Trade Value Column 2019: Who are the Orlando Magic's most valuable trade assets

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Aaron Gordon, Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets

ORLANDO, FL – JANUARY 13: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball against the Houston Rockets on January 13, 2019 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /

1. Aaron Gordon (4 years, $76 million)

In the run up to the NBA trade deadline, one name has fascinated the national media it seemed. It was not the obvious trade candidates in expiring contracts for Nikola Vucevic and Terrence Ross. It was Aaron Gordon.

Article after article asked the same question: What are the Magic going to do with Aaron Gordon?

Whether it was a media member questioning Aaron Gordon’s fit against the Jeff Weltman-drafted Mohamed Bamba and Jonathan Isaac or an anonymous scout saying Gordon was the guy teams were curious if they could pry free, Gordon was unexpected a name to watch at the deadline.

That feels ridiculous after Gordon signed a four-year, $76-million contract this summer. The front office obviously had some belief in him that they could make things work with the core they were building.

Then again, they signed Gordon to a contract that was front loaded. His contract becomes more valuable in the trade market as it ages, especially if Gordon continues to get better.

Gordon certainly seems to be trending in that direction. While his scoring is down (from 17.6 points per game to 15.8), his other stats seem to have increased or stayed the same from his breakout season last year. Gordon is shooting a more efficient 45.1 percent from the floor and 50.9 percent effective field goal percentage.

More impressively, Gordon has rounded out his game in other ways.

He is making better decisions on the ball rather than relying heavily on his isolation play. Unlike last year, fans seem to be begging Gordon to attack more. He is averaging a career-high 3.6 assists per game too.

Gordon is also making good on a preseason promise to be a better defender. The Magic trust him completely to defend the best player on the other team and he is a tough one at that.

Gordon’s scoring may still come. He is still just 23 years old.

That leaves a lot of promise and potential still to fill even five years into his career. The rest of the league clearly knows that. They would love to pry him free from the Magic. Orlando should be asking for a hefty price to do that.

Next. Orlando Magic could gain from being third team in bigger deal. dark

And honestly, at this stage of the Magic’s progression, they should be holding onto Gordon as much as anyone else.