Orlando Magic

The Orlando Magic were busy Thursday.

The team reportedly made the following three trades, bringing in serious draft capital:

• Aaron Gordon and Gary Clark to the Denver Nuggets for Gary Harris, R.J. Hampton and a protected 2025 first-round pick, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. 
• Evan Fournier to the Boston Celtics for two second-round picks, per Wojnarowski.
• Nikola Vucevic to the Chicago Bulls for Wendell Carter Jr., Otto Porter Jr., a top-four protected 2021 first-rounder and a 2023 first-rounder, per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.

Those draft picks will add to the team's own stash of picks (no outgoing picks in the coming years) in addition to a second-round pick owed to Orlando in 2022 from Indiana and a 2026 second-rounder owed to it from Milwaukee. 

Blowing up the roster may be painful for Magic fans, but the team was stuck in limbo: It was just good enough to keep from getting really valuable draft picks but just bad enough to never be a legitimate contender. 

The team also had ill-fitting parts, with a number of bigs that didn't make sense together. Thursday's deals will allow the Magic to build around Jonathan Isaac, Markelle Fultz, Cole Anthony, future draft picks and Mo Bamba, to a lesser extent. 

They can also re-sign Carter Jr. to a long-term deal this summer if they like his fit. 

This year's NBA draft is loaded, with a top five of true potential difference-makers in Cade Cunningham, Jalen Suggs, Jalen Green, Evan Mobley and Jonathan Kuminga. Even if Orlando doesn't end up with a top-five pick, it added the draft ammunition Thursday to potentially move up the board and land one of those players. 

The Magic are rebuilding after the three trades they just made, but it's a soft rebuild. Going from a fringe playoff contender to a franchise with excellent future draft assets and a promising young core is a solid foundation on which to build. 

Trading a trio of that caliber, including an All-Star like Vucevic in particular, might have been a shock to the system for Orlando faithful, but the team now has a more defined direction. Five years from now, Thursday may be remembered as a very good day for this franchise.

If the Orlando Magic are going to trade Aaron Gordon prior to Thursday's deadline, the 25-year-old reportedly has a preferred list of destinations he would like to play for.  

Per The Athletic's Jared Weiss, Gordon is "eager" to play for the Boston Celtics but would also "welcome a deal" to the Denver Nuggets or Portland Trail Blazers. 

It's unclear if Gordon wants to be traded by the Magic right now. He told reporters on Tuesday that he did request a trade due to "frustration with the losses, the injuries, the way we've been playing and how many losses have accumulated over the years."

On Wednesday, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported on the Woj and Lowe '21 Trade Deadline Show (h/t Colin Ward-Henninger of CBS Sports) that Gordon has "has had some second thoughts ... about whether he actually really wants to leave Orlando."

Wojnarowski did note that the Magic front office has "forged ahead" looking at trade possibilities for Gordon. 

The Celtics have been attached to Gordon leading up to the deadline, though it's unclear if they will meet Orlando's asking price. Weiss and Sam Amick reported on Monday the Magic want "an asking price of multiple first-round picks or a pick with a good young player."

Per Matt Moore of The Action Network, Boston is considered the front-runner to land Gordon. The Celtics have lost 14 of their last 23 games and are currently the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 21-23 record. 

Portland needs another big man with Zach Collins and Jusuf Nurkic currently out with injuries. The Nuggets are likely looking to solidify their frontcourt rotation next to Nikola Jokic. 

Gordon is a versatile defensive player who continues to improve as a shooter. The seven-year veteran is averaging 14.6 points on a career-high 37.5 percent three-point shooting, 6.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 25 starts this season. 

Aaron Gordon may not be angling to leave the Orlando Magic after all.

The Athletic's Jared Weiss and Sam Amick reported Gordon had asked to be traded in February. However, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (h/t Yahoo Sports' Keith Smith) followed up Wednesday to report the 25-year-old forward is having second thoughts about the request. 

Following Tuesday's 110-99 defeat to the Denver Nuggets, Gordon addressed why he initially approached the front office about an exit.

"There's been times where I just expressed my frustration to management," he told reporters. "Frustration with the losses, the injuries, the way we've been playing and how many losses have accumulated over the years. So it's just my frustration kind of boiling over I would say. ... I think a lot of people share that sentiment with me, of frustration."

If Gordon's feelings have changed, it's unclear what the trigger was since Orlando has dropped 11 of its last 12 games and sits 14th in the Eastern Conference at 14-29.

His reversal may not alter what unfolds prior to the trade deadline, either.

ESPN's Zach Lowe reported the Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets have shown interest in Gordon, with Houston staging "serious talks" with the Magic about a deal. According to The Action Network's Matt Moore, the Boston Celtics "are considered the front-runners."

Although Gordon is signed through the 2021-22 season, Orlando's record is evidence of how badly the franchise is in need of rejuvenation. Flipping him for draft assets or young players could be more beneficial in the long term.

The Boston Celtics could be aggressive in pursuing trade deals ahead of Thursday's deadline, even parting with a core member of the rotation.

According to Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated, the Celtics have shown a willingness to deal" Marcus Smart in trades. Mannix referenced a potential deal involving Aaron Gordon but noted the Orlando Magic might not want the guard as part of their rebuilding effort.

Shams Charania of The Athletic previously reported the Atlanta Hawks have "expressed interest" in Smart, which could give Boston more options.

Mannix noted the Celtics have also shown interest in Sacramento Kings wing Harrison Barnes, but "there has not been any traction in talks between the two teams."

Dealing Smart would be a surprise considering his value to Boston over the past seven years. He has been either a starter or played significant minutes off the bench for teams that reached the Eastern Conference Finals in three of the past four years.

The 27-year-old is especially known for his defense and has earned a spot on the NBA All-Defensive first-team in each of the last two years. His offense has also improved, with an average of 12.8 points per game this season, while his 5.4 assists per game would be a career high.

After missing more than a month with a calf strain, he could be an impact player for the rest of the season.

The problem is the Celtics have struggled with or without Smart available and sit eighth in the East with a 21-22 record.

Until Kemba Walker regains his past form, the team lacks reliable offensive options behind Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Adding another scorer, whether that's Gordon, Barnes, John Collins or someone else, would go a long way toward the team making a run this postseason.

The Houston Rockets have reportedly held "serious talks" with the Orlando Magic about power forward Aaron Gordon ahead of the 2021 NBA trade deadline on Thursday. 

ESPN's Zach Lowe reported Wednesday the Magic are seeking "significant draft compensation" from the Rockets.

Gordon explained to reporters after Tuesday night's loss to the Denver Nuggets that mounting frustration led him to request a trade out of Orlando.

"There's been times where I just expressed my frustration to management and the frustration with the losses, the injuries, the way we've been playing ... and how many losses have accumulated over the years," he said. "So it's just my frustration kind of boiling over, I would say. I think a lot of people share that sentiment with me; a lot of frustration."

The Magic have mostly struggled since they selected the University of Arizona product with the fourth overall pick in the 2014 draft. They missed the playoffs in each of his first four seasons and were eliminated in the first round of the postseason the last two years.

Gordon has typically been a bright spot amid the lack of team success, and that's continued this season despite being limited to 24 appearances because of injuries. He's averaged 14.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.8 threes while shooting 39.3 percent from beyond the arc.

The 25-year-old California native could have a number of suitors on the trade market.

He could provide frontcourt depth to a championship-level team, where he'd likely fit in as an offensive weapon off the bench, but he's also got another season left on his four-year, $80 million contract, which could make him an attractive piece for non-contenders looking to start building their foundation for next year.

Matt Moore of the Action Network reported Monday the Boston Celtics are the "front-runners" in the trade pursuit of Gordon.

Meanwhile, the Rockets (12-30) are a team starting to look to the future after a 20-game losing streak caused them to plummet down the Western Conference standings.

Gordon would step right into a marquee role in Houston alongside Christian Wood in the frontcourt and cross at least one need off the front office's to-do list before the offseason.

A day after officially requesting a trade from the Orlando Magic, power forward Aaron Gordon opened up to reporters about coming to the decision and why he's ready to continue his career elsewhere. 

It all came down to one word: frustration. 

"There's been times where I just expressed my frustration to management and the frustration with the losses, the injuries, the way we've been playing," Gordon told reporters after Tuesday's 110-99 loss to the Denver Nuggets. "How we've been playing and how many losses have accumulated over the years. So it's just my frustration kind of boiling over, I would say. I think a lot of people share that sentiment with me, a lot of frustration."

Gordon is in his seventh season with the Magic and has been to the playoffs just twice—each appearance ending with a first-round loss in five games.      

Yet the Arizona product kept his head down and kept battling. 

Then things got worse this season. Through 43 games, the Magic (14-29) are second-to-last in the Eastern Conference ahead of only the Detroit Pistons and have reportedly told clubs looking to deal that they're willing to trade anyone on the roster except Jonathan Isaac and Markelle Fultz.

Trade rumors are nothing new for Gordon, but its increasingly clear his future in Orlando does not involve him as the face of the franchise for much longer. 

The forward has one year and $16.4 million remaining on his contract before he reaches free agency in 2022. A trade to a contender now would show that he's still capable of producing at a high-level for a championship-caliber team before he seeks his next contract. It would also give him some more—and much-needed—postseason experience before he's officially on the free agent market. 

That won't happen in Orlando. Certainly not this year. 

While Gordon remains consistent on the floor with 14.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists through 23 games, the Magic aren't close to contending.

That would be frustrating on its own in any year, let alone one following Gordon's first two playoff appearances. 

The Denver Nuggets have checked in on the availability of Orlando Magic shooting guard Evan Fournier ahead of Thursday's trade deadline, according to Joe Vardon of The Athletic.

Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated recently noted the Magic only have two players who they consider untouchable—Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac—so a deal for Fournier could make sense for both sides depending on the return. 

Denver has reportedly been offering starting guard Gary Harris in potential deals to help offset any salary concerns, per Vardon, and Harris could make sense for an Orlando club lacking backcourt depth—especially if Fournier is on the move. 

Through 24 games this season, the 28-year-old Fournier is averaging 19.1 points, 3.6 assists and 3.1 rebounds. 

Fournier's numbers are a bit more enticing than Harris' 9.7 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game and the Frenchman is a bit stronger behind the arc than Harris, knocking down 38.3 percent of his three-pointers (2.7 makes per game) to Harris' 32 percent (1.3 makes per game). 

While Fournier is two years older than Harris, he's also finishing up a five-year, $85 million contract and is set to become a free agent after this season, so the Nuggets wouldn't be locked into a long-term deal should things go awry. 

At 25-17 and holding onto fifth place in the Western Conference, Denver still has plenty of room to expand its margin for error, and finding reliable shooting will always cover up glaring issues elsewhere. 

It just depends whether or not the Magic feel the Nuggets have enough desirable assets to make a deal work. 

Orlando isn't trying to hide its hand this trade season. It wants to maximize the situation. With a roster loaded with Fournier, Nikola Vucevic, Chuma Okeke, Aaron Gordon and Michael Carter-Williams, there are plenty of depth pieces contenders may find valuable. 

If Denver is going to convince Orlando to commit to a deal, it'll have to do so rather quickly as time becomes the biggest factor. 

Rumors of an Aaron Gordon trade to the Boston Celtics are heating up.

On Monday night, Matt Moore of the Action Network reported that the Celtics are "considered the front-runners to add ... Gordon via trade." Moore added that "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."

Sam Amick of The Athletic added that "the Celtics have indeed put two first-round picks on the table, and that the framework of the deal would also include Magic guard (and free-agent-to-be) Evan Fournier heading to the Celtics."

Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported that the Houston Rockets were willing to trade first-round picks for Gordon, but talks fell through when it became clear the star forward would be reluctant to sign a long-term extension with Houston, per Moore.

As for the Celtics, Joe Vardon of The Athletic offered more context on the talks with the Magic:

"An NBA executive, watching from afar when it comes to the Gordon sweepstakes, says he's not the only name the Celtics are chasing. If he was, the deal would be done. Executing deals with Boston can be tricky. Offers are often made out of Beantown for players not currently on the Celtics' roster (meaning a third team has to get involved), which can frustrate colleagues looking to make a big deal."

Gordon, 25, is having another solid season for the Magic, averaging 14.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game while shooting 44.2 percent from the field and a career-high 40.2 percent from three. He's the type of multi-positional defender who is highly valuable come the playoffs, and his improved shooting this season would allow the Celtics to space the floor. 

Something needs to change in Boston. The Celtics have limped to a disappointing 21-22 record, a surprising mark for a team that reached the Eastern Conference Finals last year. 

As for what Boston would give up in any Gordon pursuit, Marcus Smart would potentially be heading the other way. Losing the sturdy defender would hurt, though Gordon would be a more natural fit with players like Kemba Walker, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. 

If Smart is on the move, however, that would mean shooting guard Fournier would be heading to Boston in the deal. For a Celtics team dramatically underachieving this season, righting the ship would be worth a major shake-up like dealing Smart. 

Orlando Magic guard Evan Fournier has reportedly told the team he has "no intention" of re-signing as a free agent this offseason, making it likelier he is traded ahead of the March 25 deadline. 

ESPN's Tim MacMahon wrote a Fournier trade could come as part of a "roster reset" in Orlando. Aaron Gordon is also expected to see interest before Thursday after reportedly requesting a trade.

Fournier is averaging 19.1 points, 3.6 assists and 3.1 rebounds while shooting 38.3 percent from three-point range. He's been an efficient scorer throughout his seven seasons in Orlando, a reliable floor-spacer who can create for himself some off the dribble.

Given that the Magic have the NBA's fourth-worst record and Fournier has no intention of returning, finding a team willing to give up another expiring contract and a draft pick should be a priority ahead of the deadline. With many teams seemingly willing to stand pat, it's possible a playoff-bound team would be willing to give up a protected first-round pick for Fournier.

The Magic are in a good position to trade Fournier as well because his $17 million base salary is one of the more matchable deals among available veterans. Several contenders have the $13.6 million in salary needed to make a trade for Fournier work under the salary cap—assuming they have room under the hard cap. The $13.6 million figure is a bare minimum to satisfy NBA trade rules. 

Gordon likewise has a tradable contract with an $18.1 million base salary this season, so the Magic might be the most active team to watch ahead of the deadline.

Aaron Gordon has been the subject of trade talks ahead of the March 25 deadline, but the Orlando Magic reportedly have a high asking price for the forward.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst broke down the situation on SportsCenter:

"Aaron Gordon is the name I'm hearing most often as the top guy out there. A number of teams have contacted the Magic with offers and their ask is pretty high here. They're looking for multiple first-round picks or a first-round pick and another young player. It's not 100 percent certain that Gordon is going to get moved, they could move him this summer, but keep an eye on this guy because he could make a difference for some teams. With one year left on his contract too, he would also be in line for maybe getting a contract extension if he gets traded."

Gordon had been sidelined by an ankle injury for much of the season but is coming off his best effort of the year, scoring 38 points in a win over the Brooklyn Nets Friday.

The 25-year-old is averaging 14.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 22 appearances in 2020-21.

It might have been difficult for teams to swing a deal last week after an ankle sprain forced him to miss all of February and the beginning of March. He played just 14 minutes in his return after the All-Star break before sitting out the next two games.

Now that he has played two straight games, including his monster effort Friday, there could be more movement in trade talks.

The 2014 No. 4 overall draft pick is best known for the athleticism that created viral moments during games and the Slam Dunk contest, but he averaged 17.6 points per game in 2017-18 and has been a good defender throughout his career.

If he can stay healthy, Gordon can be an impact player for a contender this season. He could also be a target for a rebuilding team trying to add a difference-maker for the future.

According to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons and Portland Trail Blazers were among those linked to a trade for Gordon.

Windhorst also mentioned the Rockets as a possibility, saying Eric Gordon could be part of a package back to Orlando.

Houston is far out of contention in the midst of a 19-game losing streak, but Gordon is set to make $16.4 million in the final year of his contract next season. A team can take the chance on a high-upside player and either let him go after one year or lock him down long term if things go well.