Portland Trail Blazers: LaMarcus Aldridge or Aaron Gordon
Anatomy of a deal
Because Orlando is rebuilding, they should be a good trade partner for the Blazers. Dealing @Double0AG helps their odds to land a high draft pick. Orlando is probably looking for a draft pick or two or at least lottery-type young players. Portland GM Neil Olshey could send Collins and Rodney Hood to the Magic for Gordon.
If the Spurs buyout Aldridge, Portland loses some leverage because the five-time Al–NBA selection can pick his team. Aldridge may not view the Trail Blazers as the best team for him to make money, contribute and win a title. Another reason Gordon is the correct choice is he’s a whole decade younger. Gordon can be a part of the new core the Blazers can build around.
The same Blazers package might land Aldridge, but there are two negatives to the deal. First, the Blazers would need the Spurs to eat at least $4.5 million of Aldridge’s current contract. Either that or the Blazers need to include another player or two. The second big concern is all these players sent over will be competing against the Blazers for a Western Conference playoff spot.
Trading for Aaron Gordon is the right choice. While Aldridge has arguably the most important pieces, experience, and rapport with Dame and Stotts, Gordon checks all the other boxes. Let’s be honest, Gordon can easily build rapport with Lillard. Besides, the internal-team and pregame warmup dunk contests between Gordon and Derrick Jones Jr. are worth the game day ticket price.
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LaMarcus Aldridge and Aaron Gordon might not be the Portland Trail Blazers’ only choices, but they could be the best options.