7 trades involving Aaron Gordon and the Orlando Magic

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Gary Harris has struggled with injuries throughout his career but he remains an excellent defender and shooter. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets are certainly a team that is probably looking for some support and help this season to get back into the Western Conference contenders picture. Despite Nikola Jokic’s stellar season, the Nuggets’ year has been uneven. Denver sits at 23-16 and fifth in the Western Conference.

Things are starting to look up for them. But Denver is still missing something.

The Nuggets’ biggest loss this offseason was losing Jerami Grant. And the Nuggets seemingly want a defensive-minded forward who can spread the floor a little bit. They at least need that defender to help matchup with the best players in the Western Conference.

They have used Michael Porter Jr. as their starting power forward and he has continued to develop into the top prospect many pegged him as before his back injury. The starting small forward spot has been a mix of the oft-injured Gary Harris and flamethrower Will Barton.

A frontcourt of Michael Porter and Aaron Gordon would probably work the way the Magic want Jonathan Isaac and Aaron Gordon to work. So there is some interest there. The Nuggets could also be potential landing spots for Evan Fournier and Terrence Ross, to be perfectly honest.

The Magic probably have to settle for Harris, who like Gordon probably needs a change of scenery. But if they agree to take Harris, they should probably try to get another long-term asset too. Whether that is a player like R.J. Hampton or a future first is the matter for debate.

Harris is averaging just 9.7 points per game and has seen his scoring decrease in the last three years from a high of 17.5 points per game in 2018. Harris is a career 35.9-percent 3-point shooter. But he is making only 32.0-percent of his 3-pointers in 19 games this year. He is currently out with a hip strain.

Hampton would be the intriguing player. He was someone a lot of us had our eyes on at the draft. He is currently waiting to clear health and safety protocols. He is averaging 2.5 points per game in 9.2 minutes per game.

If the Magic believe Harris can be healthy and can return to the team for next season, then that would be a really good return for Gordon (albeit he has just one more year left on his deal too).

Other suggestions from social media would have the Magic acquire Bol Bol and a couple of firsts instead of Hampton in the deal. There is something there too.

The framework is clearly for the Magic and Nuggets to swap Harris along with a young prospect and some late-draft capital to get a deal done.

But it does not seem like the Nuggets could deliver the long-term assets the Magic want to make an immediate move. Not unless they plan on throwing a lot more into the pot.