Blazers interested in Aaron Gordon

Considering that it feels like we've heard Gordon's name in the rumors for 3 straight years, and hes still in Orlando.... it seems plausible that Magic are asking for the moon

 

We've heard Carmelo for a long time and it happened. Maybe we need just 400 pages more.

 

The thing about the Melo thread that strikes me isn't so much the pages but the almost nine years (2/17/2011-11/15/2019) it took to get Melo here after @BoomChakaLaka started the whole thing.

 

Brian Windhorst was just on SportsCenter and the first thing he had to say was that we are the team that is pursuing Aaron Gordon the most. That is what he led with and then mentioned one other team pursuing someone else. He did say that he didn't know if we had the young assets to get the deal done but then he repeated that from what he is hearing we are very determined because the team thinks that Gordon is the perfect player to help Dame make teams pay for the double teams or something like that.

 

Hood/Collins/Trent for Gordon.

That's 18.1 mil in, and 17.1 mil out. Puts us about 500k into the tax.

That might be a sticking point with Jody as it would make our repeater number excessive for next year. We'd then have to attach a future protected second round pick or something with Giles for example (1.6 mil) to another team in exchange for player making less. We did this with Noah Vonleh in the past, or even Skal for Caleb a few yrs ago. It's not completely unfathomable-- just requires some creativity.

Also having some room at the end for the buyout market might also require some foresight. Guess that's why Neil gets paid the big bucks

 

I’d do it right now

 

we apparently went after blake too

 

So Hood/Collins/Simons for Gordon actually keeps us about 200k below the tax line. I'd rather trade Trent than Simons, but using Ant makes this a bit more simple.

Think we still need to be players in the buyout market, so it's important for us to do some manipulation with our 13-15th spots

 

good point

 

Agreed with rather sending out Trent than Simons. I wonder if there's a possibility to send Trent somewhere for a first rounder and very cheap player coming back, then pass along the first rounder to Orlando? I'm just not sure where he would fit well (and both sides would want to commit to the point of giving up something now).

Doing that, then sending the pick to Orlando along with Simons/Hood/Collins seems like the move, but we would have to have a plan in place to fix the backcourt ASAP.

All of this becomes much easier if Jones is included instead of Collins, and his contract considerations line up better as well (i.e., he'll probably opt out this summer anyways) but I think he'd be so much better getting to guard perimeter players with Gordon here (and thriving off of Gordon's passing), it'd suck to lose him.

 

I think we have to include Trent if we want to get Gordon. Orlando has little use for Ant with Fultz and Cole Anthony. But they do need a 2 guard when Fournier walks/traded.

But if they are demanding a first as well, I don’t know how we will get it done

 

Right I was thinking that, but there are very few teams that would give up a first for Gary and also be sufficiently over the cap next summer. Boston and Orlando are probably the only targets. I also don't want to just hand a WC playoff team Gary for a late first right before we face them in the playoffs.

Trading Jones would be so much easier, but I really want to see him with Roco and Nurk in the playoffs next to him on the defensive line. Unless we're getting a stellar defender at the wing back, I don't want to give up DJ.

 

The threes off the dribble are something I didn't think he was capable of.

 

To me, Id rather go after a 3 thats can score and defend.
RoCo and Gordon are similar if you look at recent & career stats. RoCo gets more blocks and steals. They both rebound about the same. Gordons contract is up after next year and chances are he going to want more money than Cov.
If you want Neil to swing for the fences why not go after Brown from Boston 3&D, or someone like that even if you have to include a CJ. Brown & Tatum are similar to Dame & CJ has they both play the same position primarily. Just a thought.

 

Portland doesn't have the ammo to get Brown. I'm sure everyone on this forum would prefer Brown to Gordon.

The difference between Brown/Tatum and Dame/CJ is that Brown/Tatum overlap in good ways--they're athletic, long wings who can defend and score. Tatum is 6'8'', so can easily play power forward alongside Brown. Boston isn't going to break that duo up just because they're both really good and athletic wings--those are the types of players you want as many of as possible, these days.

 

I agree with that but what if you included CJ, Nurk, Trent etc. I mean swing for the fence. Boston is struggling, who know. Im just saying/sounding off, Gordon isn't the make a difference trade everyone wants Neil to make.

 

Unless Olshey is really focused on next year rather than this year?

 

Here's a thought, what about the NYK? Thibs wants to win now and probably feels like he could teach Gary D. They need shooting and would probably like to add a young running mate to Quickley. Gary is Klutch so I would imagine he'll try to get steered to a big market.

Gordon, Austin Rivers, and Dwayne Bacon to the Blazers
Derick Jones and Gary Trent to NYK
Rodney Hood, Kevin Knox, Anfernee Simons, and NYK #1 to Orlando

Our backcourt rotation would be pretty slim, but Dame and CJ will get the lions share anyways. Frontcourt rotation would be a thing of beautify. Lots of switchability, rebounding, playmaking. We'd basically be committing to letting our backcourt flamethrow and being more physical than other teams (with Roco at 3). If Nurk gets healthy, I could see it being pretty effective in the west. Also, I think Gordon/Roco probably handle Lebron/Davis better than any other team.

Probably too big to get done though. My theory is the more complicated a trade gets, the more unfeasible it is. It would set us up beautifully for next year though. All the important pieces are signed, exceptions available to use, not in luxury tax this year (so non-repeater), and can kick the tires on Collins, who I presume Olshey still values.

 

Rivers and MCW

 

Yeah who wants a consistent guard with size that can defend both back court positions and run an offense. We've never been in a position where we'd have benefited from having someone like that before.