Denver Nuggets: Is Aaron Gordon already a trade candidate?

The Denver Nuggets acquired Aaron Gordon at the 2021 trade deadline in a deal with the Orlando Magic. The trade saw Gary Harris, R.J. Hampton, and a top-5 protected 2025 first-round pick head to Orlando, with Gordon making his way to the Mile High City.

And for Denver, the results have been mixed.

Following the trade, Gordon averaged 10.2 points, 2.2 assists, and 4.7 rebounds in the 25 regular-season games he participated in. Then the playoffs came calling. During the first round against the Portland Trail Blazers, Gordon was a force, averaging 12.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists while shooting 60 percent from three on 2.5 attempts per game.

Then came the Phoenix Suns, and that’s where the bottom fell out for Gordon.

Gordon went 0-for-8 from three in those four games and shot only 41 percent from the field, as the Suns swept the Nuggets. Of course, those losses don’t solely fall at Gordon’s feet, but as one of the more prominent members of the rotation, more would have been expected from him.

And that inability to meet expectations is why Gordon’s stay in Denver could be a short one. Gordon has just one year left on his contract, worth $16,409,091, and will become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

For a team like Denver, who gave up Harris – a reliable scoring guard, Hampton – a high-upside project, and a future first, watching Gordon walk for nothing would be bad business. Small market teams don’t have the luxury of pivoting to another borderline All-Star in the free-agent market – and the Nuggets (who have been walking this tightrope for eternity) will be well aware of the risks.

Here’s the thing, Gordon has been miscast for almost his entire career. The move to Denver was supposed to put the San Jose native in a role more suited to his talents, which in theory would accentuate his impact on the court. Of course, that all went out the window when Jamal Murray went down with an injury.

In Orlando, Gordon was primarily the focal point of the offense. Tasked with both offensive creation and play finishing, the Magic asked Gordon to play beyond his realistic capabilities. In return, Gordon provided inconsistent offense and playmaking, while his defense didn’t match his athletic ability.

Gordon would have come to Denver expecting to be a third option on offense. In a condensed role, the 26-year-old forward would focus on being a play finisher rather than a play creator while also being able to really lock in on defense. Unfortunately, Gordon had to step into a secondary role with Murray going down, where playmaking and medium-to-high volume shooting were on the menu.

With no concrete timetable on Murray’s return to the rotation and the undoubted teething issues Murray will face as he works back to full fitness, Gordon could find himself playing that secondary role for the majority of the season.

Should Gordon fail to find consistency or learn to live in the Nikola Jokic ecosystem, he could find himself being shopped in trade discussions as the Nuggets look to recoup some of the trade assets they gave up for him earlier this year.

A team such as the Boston Celtics, who are hunting for a tertiary star, could be interested and would be able to offer some young pieces, draft picks, and the ability for Denver to create a TPE. However, the Celtics won’t be the only team interested in Aaron Gordon, but his value will certainly be lower than last season due to his impending free agency.

In the coming months, both the Denver Nuggets and Aaron Gordon will have some tough decisions to make. Either Gordon steps up to the plate and finds a consistent level of performance, or the Nuggets need to cut bait to recoup some assets that can help them keep their championship window open for as long as possible. The sad part is, Gordon is precisely that piece, and when Murray is back, he will likely thrive in a Nuggets uniform. The good news is, Denver isn’t known as an organization to panic and make hasty moves.

So, right now, all signs point to Gordon playing the season in Denver, but a few bad months, and that could all change in an instant.