Could the Denver Nuggets trade Aaron Gordon?
The Denver Nuggets could be in for a busy offseason as they look to reshape the roster around Nikola Jokic in hopes of returning to the NBA Finals.
The Nuggets had a disappointing end to their season this past year, losing in six games to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round despite entering the postseason as the third seed in the West.
While Denver is expected to trade Christian Braun or Cameron Johnson to make room for the extension of Peyton Watson, a larger name has been in play.
Rumors have circulated regarding the future of Aaron Gordon, who has earned the nickname Mr. Nugget for his team commitment since arriving in Denver in March 2021.
The Future of Gordon
According to Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype, the Portland Trail Blazers, Boston Celtics, and Miami Heat have all had some interest in acquiring Gordon.
“Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon was considered among the contingency plans for the Heat if the franchise didn’t land Giannis Antetokounmpo in a trade, league sources told HoopsHype. Similarly, the Portland Trail Blazers have expressed trade interest in Gordon should they not land Jaylen Brown, their preferred target, HoopsHype has learned. Ironically, the Celtics have also kept tabs on Gordon from afar," wrote Scotto.
Miami did land Giannis Antetokounmpo, and it's tough to envision a path where they can also land Gordon. They depleted their assets to get Giannis, and Denver likely has no interest in swapping Gordon for Andrew Wiggins, even before Wiggins signed an extension to remain with Miami.
The Blazers have the assets to get Jaylen Brown from the Celtics, but maybe a three-team deal can be worked out if Denver decides it would rather have a platter of players for Gordon rather than attempt to acquire Brown for themselves.
Should Gordon Be Dealt?
Only if the offer betters the team. Denver rightfully has durability concerns about Gordon after he was unable to make an impact this past postseason due to injuries, and wasn't 100% for Game 7 against the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2025.
But Gordon has been the third-best player on the team since arriving in 2021 and has a special connection with Nikola Jokic that can only be built through time and reps.
They also drafted two players, Trevon Brazile and Bryce Hopkins, who could benefit from learning under the wing of Gordon.
Gordon's value goes beyond the boxscore, and that value is higher in Denver than anywhere else due to established relationships and chemistry.
