Aaron Gordon is a beloved Nugget. His nickname is Mr. Nugget, after all, and after the Denver Nuggets won the franchise's first NBA Championship in 2023, Gordon was partying in the street with the fans. Nuggets fans and the Nuggets front office love Aaron Gordon. That's why the reality and gravity of the trade buzz starting up around AG stings so much.
Gordon isn't just a great basketball player. He's more than that for the Nuggets. He's literally the vibe guy, the one whose presence causes everyone else to have their spirits lifted. Gordon isn't just the glue guy on the court, holding the Nuggets' offense and defense together. He's so much more for the Nuggets. He might be the second most important Nugget next to Nikola Jokic.
Even team president Josh Kroenke had awesome words to share about AG. "I think Aaron is one of my favorite human beings that I've come across in our wide world of sports," Kroenke said.
But the reality is, the NBA doesn't move around heart. It moves around talent, performance, injuries, and, most of all, money. AG is due a raise next year, and the Nuggets are way over the luxury tax. Because of that, they have all options except trading Nikola Jokic on the table.
Gordon trade rumors will start to pick up
Gordon is likely to be mentioned in a plethora of rumors as we get deep into the offseason, and he could be one of the hottest free agents on the market as the offseason progresses. Gordon's already been mentioned on a list of players the Lakers could target, and that's probably just the first of many.
Gordon's still capable of fantastic play. His defense is impeccable still, and he stopped Victor Wembanyama in the regular season for the Nuggets when they needed a big win at home. And his offense has only improved, too.
Gordon averaged 16.2 points across only 36 games this year, but he scored 50 on opening night against the Warriors, announcing to everyone that his game wasn't just a one-dimensional dunk machine. Gordon hit 10 of 11 threes in the game, showcasing the range and shooting he has been working on improving throughout his career.
The Nuggets need to shed salary
If the Nuggets are going to avoid the second-apron tax and even try to get back under the luxury tax to avoid the repeater tax, they are going to have to shed salary.
Gordon's contract jumps from $22.8 million to $33.6 million for 2026-27. The Nuggets are wrestling with how to avoid the tax penalties, and that's a large chunk of change to tie up on a player who was missing when they needed him most in the playoffs.
That wasn't Gordon's fault, of course, but he's carrying an injury risk tag now, and that could hamper his value on the market. But AG is beloved, and it'll be hard for Nuggets fans to wrestle with this reality.
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