Make no mistake, Aaron Gordon is probably the second most important Denver Nugget behind Nikola Jokic. His defense, athleticism, and aura, or the glue that holds the Nuggets together, are central to the team's success. But if the Nuggets get an offer that upgrades the roster while perceivably getting healthier, then by all means, they need to listen to and ponder those offers. But they'd better be offers that clearly benefit the Nuggets to let go of Gordon.
Gordon's a fan favorite, Mr. Nugget, and he's the Nuggets' best defender. He's even shown that he's capable of shutting down Victor Wembanyama to change the tide of the game. But a recent rumor from Michael Scotto and HoopsHype shows that the Nuggets could be getting a few phone calls from teams on tilt after missing out on Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jaylen Brown.
"Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon was considered among the contingency plans for the Heat if the franchise didn’t land Giannis Antetokounmpo via 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."
The trade market is hot for AG. Of course it is, teams are thinking they can pick up Mr. Nugget for a discounted price.
The Nuggets should only sell high on Gordon
Aaron Gordon is one of the most beloved Nuggets in franchise history, and as I said earlier, he's the second most important Nugget on the roster. But teams are probably thinking they can get Gordon cheaply after he had a second season in a row filled with injuries, including missing three out of six of the Nuggets' playoff games. When Gordon is on the court, the Nuggets' defense is just a whole lot better overall,
But if the Nuggets can get a solid upgrade and more depth in a package for Gordon, they still have to listen and consider the offer. What could the Nuggets potentially get in return for Gordon for either the Blazers or the Celtics?
From the Celtics, the Nuggets would have to get Derrick White back at least, no question. White's a defensive stopper on the wing and an All-NBA Defense First team selection in 2025-26. The Nuggets cannot let Gordon go without getting defense back. If they do that, they'll upset a lot of fans and come out so much worse on the other side. But the Nuggets can't just let Gordon go for wing defense. They need picks for Gordon, too.
The Blazers have extra draft picks available, and they have an attractive package of Jrue Holiday, another stopper on the wing and former All-NBA Defensive First Team member, plus Scoot Henderson, a former number three overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.
Either way, the Nuggets should only trade Gordon if they get a sell-high package, even given the injury risk. He's too important for the Nuggets, and they should look at packages that send out Jamal Murray instead.
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