A three-team trade is the way to go with Aaron Gordon for Orlando Magic

Shipping up to Boston

The Athletic’s Jared Weiss and Sam Amick have reported the Boston Celtics are another team interested in acquiring Gordon. The Celtics have a monster trade exception created in the Gordon Hayward sign-and-trade to the Charlotte Hornets, so will likely be active before the deadline to boost their playoff hopes.

Gordon would create an intriguing small-ball lineup in Boston, filling the power forward spot with Jayson Tatum at the three and Jaylen Brown at the 2-spot. Adding the 25-year-old to the team would also establish one of the best perimeter defenses in the league.

The Boston trade exception makes a deal easier. Instead of getting back players which match the value of Gordon’s contract, it presents an opportunity to free up cap space and try and get more picks in a stacked draft class. But with the Celtics likely to finish in the playoff spots this year, it is pretty certain that the first-rounder would fall relatively low.

That is why some kind of player return is needed too. The Orlando front office could use a Gordon trade to address one of the biggest weaknesses on the roster — shooting.

Boston Celtics

Aaron Nesmith is a rookie who shot better than 50-percent from three in his second season at Vanderbilt, while the Toronto Raptors’ Matt Thomas is another guy that has a great three-point shot.

Yahoo!’s Chris Haynes has said the Raptors could be a possible destination for Tristan Thompson before the deadline so a three-team trade involving the Boston big man could make sense. The Magic would be getting some draft compensation and shooting, the Celtics would get Aaron Gordon and another good option at center in Aron Baynes while Toronto would get Tristan Thompson, who would add some defense and rebounding to Nick Nurse’s roster.

Gordon has plenty to offer a lot of teams and ultimately Orlando will wait until it has all the options in front of them to make a decision. Getting the right deal for AG will make a significant difference in whether this team can progress or not.

A three-team trade presents some intriguing opportunities and may help the Magic get what it needs to move forward.

Gordon is already a good NBA player and has plenty of time left to keep improving and the focus must now be on using that value to help build a team that can get back into postseason contention next year.